X-Ray Magazine :: Issue 35 :: April 2010

Sea Glass Jewelry: Recycling Ocean Gems Mexico Cozumel Tech Talk

GLOBAL EDITION Choosing a April 2010 Number 35 Tech Instructor Profile Rich Walker Wrecks Treasure Canary Islands Stingrays d o m i n i c a Hot Rod Sea Sculpture Cris Woloszak Sperm1 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 Whales COVEr PHOTO By ErIC CHENg DIRECTORY X-RAY MAG is published by AquaScope Media ApS Frederiksberg, Denmark www.xray-mag.com PUBLISHER SENIOR EDITOR Interior of wreck, Scapa Flow, Scotland. Photo by Lawson Wood & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Symes Peter Symes [email protected] [email protected] SECTION EDITORS contents PUBLISHER / EDITOR Andrey Bizyukin, PhD - Features & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Arnold Weisz - News, Features Gunild Symes Catherine Lim - News, Books [email protected] Simon Kong - News, Books Mathias Carvalho - Wrecks AssOCIaTE EdITOrs Cindy Ross - GirlDiver & rEPrEsENTaTIVEs: Cedric Verdier - Tech Talk Americas: Scott Bennett - Photography Arnold Weisz Scott Bennett - Travel [email protected] Fiona Ayerst - Sharks Michael Arvedlund, PhD Russia Editors & Reps: - Ecology Andrey Bizyukin PhD, Moscow [email protected] COrrEsPONdENTs Robert Aston - CA, USA Svetlana Murashkina PhD, Moscow Enrico Cappeletti - Italy [email protected] John Collins - Ireland Marcelo Mammana - Argentina South East Asia Editor & Rep: Nonoy Tan - The Philippines Catherine GS Lim, Singapore [email protected] CONTrIBuTOrs THIs IssuE Ron Akeson ASSISTANT EdITOrs Scott Bennett & rEPrEsENTaTIVEs: Mary Beth Beuke Malaysia Editor & Rep: Nick Bostic Simon Kong, Kuala Lumpur Mathias Carvalho [email protected] Eric Cheng Catherine GS Lim Canada/PNW Editor & Rep: Gareth Lock Barb Roy, Vancouver Rosemary E. Lunn [email protected] Bonnie McKenna Andy Murch GirlDiver Editor & PNW Rep: Barb Roy Cindy Ross, Tacoma, USA Robert Sterner [email protected] Gunild Symes ERIC CHENG Peter Symes ADVERTISING Carol Tedesco International sales rep: Chris Wolosjak Arnold Weisz Lawson Wood 24 30 36 53 plus... [email protected] Th e Tr e a s u r e s Sp e r m Wh a l e s Co z u m e l Se a Gl a s s Je w l e r y : EDITORIAL 3 MarkETINg MaNagEr: Within t h e Tr e a s u r e o f Dominica Me x i c o Re c y c l i n g Oc e a n Ge m s NEWS 5 Asia-Pacific rep: Yann Saint-Yves b y Ca r o l Te d e s c o b y Er i c Ch e n g b y Ma t h i a s Ca r v a l h o e d i t e d b y Gu n d i l Sy m e s a n d Simon Kong (Malaysia) [email protected] WRECK RAP 20 [email protected] Ca t h e r i n e G S Lim Further information: contacts TRAVEL NEWS 28 French speaking territories: page at www. xray-mag.com 58 74 84 BOOKS & MEDIA 35 Mathias Carvalho St i n g r a y s : Wi n g e d Pr o f i l e : Ho t Ro d Se a Sc u l p t u r e : EQUIPMENT NEWS 49 [email protected] Wo n d e r s o f t h e Ri c h Wa l k e r Cr i s Wo l o s j a k SHARK TALES 58 Canada Ca n a r y Is l a n d s b y Ro s e m a r y E. Lu n n e d i t e d b y Gu n i l d Sy m e s TURTLE TALES 64 Wendy Jankovic b y An d y Mu r c h [email protected] WHALE TALES 70 Not yet subscribed to PHOTO NEWS 76 SUBSCRIPTION columns... X-RAY MAG? Sign up now! X-RAY MAG International Edition in English is FREE It’s FREE! QUICK! EASY! To subscribe, go to: www.xray-mag.com 35 57 66 78 click here... COVER PHOTO: Pod of Sperm Whales, Dominica Bo o k Lo g Sc u b a Ma r k e t i n g : Te c h : Ch o o s i n g UW Ph o t o : PHOTO THIS PAGE: Sperm Whale, Dominica b y Ro b e r t St e r n e r Sp r i n g In t o Sp r i n g a Te c h In s t r u c t o r Fi l m & Digital Vi r t u e s Both photos by Eric Cheng (CONTINuEd ON PagE 4) b y Ni c k Bo s t i c b y Ro n Ak e s o n b y La w s o n Wo o d

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silver Legal matters

Case 1 tative and investigative press can be seen as co-defend- On page 10 of this issue, there that keeps an unbiased and ant, settled the matter out is an article about the lawsuit critical eye on the industry and of court with a large sum and being filed against ScubaBoard its service providers. It is sad that pulled out, leaving a string of by a Maldives-based dive tour the afforementioned despute rebreather manufacturers with operator over allegedly libellous has now come so far that it has a bit of a headache, as they comments posted and state- to be resolved in the courts, scrambled to find a replace- ments by users on ScubaBoard’s but as far as X-RAY MAG is con- ment. forums, as members discussed cerned, we will not be cowed. We cross our fingers that these and vented their opinions on We will remain critical as always. legal cases are just aberrations the incidents surrounding and and not the harbingers of a the subsequent handling of a Case 2 new trend in the dive industry in fatal accident that occurred It was only days prior to going which members just sue some- on a liveaboard in 2008, when to press that we received body else for what is really only a young Russian diver tragically a conspicuously short press their own fault, or risk, that they lost his life due to contaminated release from Teledyne—the should have accepted in the air in scuba tanks. The case is manufacturer of oxygen sen- first place. still pending. sors used in many brands of As our societies seem to be While we are naturally both- rebreathers—that they were growing steadily more litigious, ered by the lawsuit—which pulling out and ceasing delivery it is disconcerting. Clearly at first glance looks to be a to the dive industry effective manufacturers and other serv- frivolous one—on behalf of our immediately, no further reasons ice providers should be held media colleagues, it is the far- given. Several industry insid- accountable for their products reaching implications we are ers close to the magazine who and services, but this should more worried about. If at any have asked not be named, or be regulated by official bodies time a member of the dive directly quoted, have point- that test and approve products cinema of dreams industry, or somebody else for ed to the lengthy legal case according to quality standards that matter, feels miffed about Barrett v. Ambient Pressure set forth in legislation. If the offi- receiving bad publicity in the Diving, Ltd. (the manufacturer cial inspectors are indeed dong press when reports on defective of the Inspiration and Evolution their jobs—protecting consum- products or services appear—or, rebreathers) as the underlying ers from faulty products and as in this case, accidents—and cause of Teledyne’s exit. services—and frivolous or gold- thereafter tries to censor the The case, which APD won digging lawsuits are still allowed media, then there is a direct after a four-year trial, was in the already overloaded threat to our function and obli- brought by Stephanie Barrett, backed-up court system, then gation to readers and consum- widow of Robert Barrett, who we will undoubtedly see more ers as reporters of information claimed that a design defect manufacturers shun the dive and opinion, a threat that must in the Inspiration rebreather industry and take their business- be fought at all costs. caused her husband’s death. es, products and innovations While the dive industry media The details can be read here elsewhere. may be a far cry from the http://www.davidconcannon. Washington Post—and we do com/recentcases/barrettvambi- And who could blame them? not exactly uncover scandals of ent.html. Watergate magnitude or bring We haven’t been able to — Peter Symes down presidents—it is still our obtain a comment directly from Editor-in-Chief www.seacam.com function, duty and obligation to Teledyne, but it is alleged that act as an independent, authori- Teledyne, who in some respects

3 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED X-RAY MAG is a founding member of the Underwater MK25 / Network Underwater Network.com Spring has Sprung! S600

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4 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED THE CHagOssIaNs exile, have expressed con- ment bought the company that the Immigration Order cern that the reserve may that employed them to was unlawful, and it was The native islanders, the in effect ban them from harvest coconuts into fibre said of the commissioner Chagossians, were evicted returning, since the pro- and lamp oil and then who issued it that he was to make way for a U.S. Air tected zone could prevent told them the business was supposed to govern, not wazzup Force base on the larg- them from fishing—their closed. remove the people. est island, Diego Garcia. main livelihood. The islanders were It withdrew the 1971 The former residents have The islanders, numbering dumped in Mauritius and order, and in fact, allowed News edited since fought a long-running about 2,000, were removed an Immigration Order islanders the right of return, by Peter Symes battle in the British courts by the simple means of preventing anyone from but nobody could exercise & Catherine G S Lim for the right to return. The denying them any sup- going back was issued in it because there was noth- NEWS islanders, who now live in plies. The British govern- 1971. In 2000, a court held ing to go back to. ■ Chagos Islands world’s largest marine reserve The UK government has designated an area around the Chagos Islands as the world’s largest marine reserve. Conservationists say the islands possess up to half the healthy reefs in the Indian Ocean. While no one lives there permanently now, people once did, and that could be a problem.

The Chagos archipelago, part of the Brit- taken to Mauritius and the Seychelles, rare crabs, birds and other vulnerable ish Indian Ocean Territory, is a group of 65 more than 1,000 miles away, where many species. tropical islands, spread over half a million have lived in poverty ever since. square kilometres of Indian Ocean, that Pollutant levels in Chagos waters are have belonged to Britain since they were In 2008, the islanders lost a long-running exceptionally low because of minimal captured from France in 1814 during the battle when the House of Lords, as the human influence. As a result, the ecosys- Napoleonic Wars. The islands include final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in tems of the Chagos have so far proven Diego Garcia, the site of a controversial favour of the British government by over- resilient to climate change and have joint British-American military base. turning the lower court rulings and find- been largely immune from threats to ing no right of return on the part of the other reefs worldwide. Since the 1960’s, they have been exclu- Chagossians. sively set aside for defence purposes, Despite a Fisheries Conservation Man- with no inhabitants except for military Most of Diego Garcia is a Ramsar site, agement Zone with commercial catches personnel and civilian contractors on and five islands and their reefs are Strict limited by licence, legal and illegal fishing Diego Garcia. As a consequence, be- Nature Reserves. The Archipelago pro- has impacted the area, for sharks, sea tween 1967 and 1971, an estimated vides important habitat for marine wildlife cucumbers, turtles and fish are 2,000 Chagossians were evicted from the and seabirds for all or parts of their lives. known to have declined archipelago to make way for the Diego as a result of illegal Garcia military base. The islanders were The Chagos archipelago boasts the fishing and by- world’s largest coral atoll and the world’s catch from legal cleanest, most pristine waters, which is fishing. ■ The new marine reserve would cover home to at least 220 coral species and a 544,000 sq km area around the more than 1,000 species of fish. The un- In 2004, the government made a new order that nobody had Indian Ocean archipelago, which derwater landscape of 6,000-meter a right to live in the British Indian Ocean Territory, and cit- is regarded as one of the world’s deep trenches, oceanic ridges and sea ing fears of terrorism in the post 9/11 world, it said a permit richest marine ecosystems. This will mounts, is also a refuge and breeding would be needed to go there. The image shows a U.S. B-1 include a “no-take” marine reserve ground for large and important popula- bomber taking off from the U.S. Air Force base on Diago Garcia. During the Gulf Wars, bombers based on the where commercial fishing will be tions of sharks, dolphins, marine turtles, Chagos Islands—including coldwar era B-52’s—conducted banned. bombing missions over Iraq and later over Afghanistan

5 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED PETEr SymEs news

Atlantic Octopus Mimics Flounders the Atlantic longarm octopus can shapeshift into the likes of a flounder. Several Atlantic longarm octopuses have been captured on video imitating the sand-dwelling peacock flounder, mimicking not only the shape of the flatfish but also its color and swimming style. Mimicking octopus were first reported the cephalopods folding their arms back The animal only assumes flounder form never seen another octopus off the coast of Indonesia in 1998, and into flounder shapes and undulating in a when it’s on the move, the scientists or a flounder, but it did this now, the first one has been found in the way that mimicks the peacock flounder, observed. Study leader, Roger Hanlon of flounder mimicry,” he said. Atlantic Ocean. It is the fourth octopus a common flatfish that shares a sandy the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) “We didn’t know what species known to disguise itself as a com- habitat with the octopus in Caribbean in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, thinks the that meant in the mid- pletely different species. waters. It swims along the contours of octopus uses flounder mimicry to avoid 1980’s. But it gives a hint the sea floor, even torquing its soft body predators, which might be alerted to that there might be an Normally, Atlantic longarm octopuses so both eyes move to the left, just like a potential prey by motion. “The animals innate component to swim with their arms trailing behind their flounder. have good camouflage, but when they this swimming behav- heads. But a newly released video shows move, motion gives away camouflage. ior ... that maybe this is Instead of trying to be camou- hardwired.” flaged while they’re moving, which is difficult if not impossible, Comparing still pho- they turn themselves into floun- tographs and video der.” footage from five Caribbean locations How exactly the octopus picked collected over the last up its flounder-like behavior is still decade, Hanlon and a mystery. When Hanlon saw the co-authors—MBL gradu- wild Atlantic octopuses “becom- ate students, Anya Watson and ing” flounders like the species in Alexandra Barbosa— observed uncan- Indonesia, he went back and ny similarities between the small and deli- looked at snapshots of the lab cate octopus and the peacock flounder, Interestingly, the animal taken in 1985. Bothus lunctus, one of the most common octopuses mim- sand dwellers in the Caribbean. They icked flounder only when swim- In the 1980’s, Hanlon had cap- compared not only colouration, which in ming, when movement would compro- tured Atlantic longarm octopus each animal resembled the sandy sea- mise their camouflage. How well the ani- larvae and brought them back floor, but swimming speed and form. mals blended in with their background to his lab, eventually raising one differed. The octopus showed more high- to adulthood. The captive animal The octopuses not only contoured ly controlled and rapid skin patterning displayed a weird swim pattern, their bodies to hug the wavy seafloor, than the flounder, whose camouflage but the scientists didn’t recognize but also swam with the same fits and was slower and less precise. ■ it as mimicry at the time. “It had starts as flounder at the same speeds.

Atlantic longarm octopus (Octopus defilippi) at the Blue Heron Bridge 6 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED EllEN EdmONsON aNd HugH CHrIsP 1927-1940 NEw YOrk BIOlOgICal SurVEy

Your new companion under water Do fish have personalities? UEMIS SDA news Fish with The most user friendly dive computer attitude Sticklebacks have different per- ferently from another. ably just a start. In and sonalities, a team of research- Classic traits include shy- some cases, personality Despite an envi- ers from University of Illinois led ness or boldness in response to traits might be inherited, while the environmental ronmental component, while by behavioural ecologist, Dr threats such as the presence in others they might develop component, personality can being more stable. “I would say Alison Bell, has found. Although of a predator, and aggression as a learned response to dif- be more than just a learned the key thing to personality is it sounds like an almost hereti- to other members of the spe- ferences in conditions of an response to environment, since that there is individual variation cal term to use for fish, “person- cies, but also how actively an organism’s life—the kind of a learned behaviour can be and individual consistency,” she ality” is nothing more than con- individual explores a new envi- parental care it receives. forgotten relatively quickly. said. sistent, individual differences ronment—curiosity, one might For example, the team has Scientists hope to probe the That variation and consistency in behavior, a co-researcher, say—or how sociable it is, or its demonstrated that sticklebacks genomic underpinnings of this might also explain why some Katie McGhee, explained. It general level of activity. raised by a father (the species’ behavioural variation. individuals might learn from their means that even if their envi- While these are the traits sole caretaker) tend to take Bell likens personality to factors environment faster than others. Dr Bell ronment is the same, one indi- most widely studied so far, Bell fewer risks with predators than such as height or weight, which ■ explains her vidual will consistently act dif- and others say they’re prob- fish raised in incubators. clearly can have both a genetic research Red groupers transform undersea landscapes ers watched red groupers the suite of species that remove sand from the sea depends on them are likely floor. Ala dam-building to suffer.” beavers, the fish excavate Working along the West and maintain distinct holes, Florida Shelf, Coleman and thus providing coral, spong- her colleagues observed es and other marine life a the red grouper’s excavat- place to congregate. ing activities during both “The research is incred- its juvenile stage in inshore ibly valuable because waters and its adult stage it demonstrates how at depths of 300 feet. interconnected spe- Coleman said, “We found cies are in the sea,” said through a series of experi- Dr Susan Williams, a pro- ments that they not only fessor at the University of dug the holes but also NOAA complex, California, Davis, who has maintained them by carry- three-dimensional collaborated with Coleman ing mouthfuls of sediment A new study led by Most abundant along structures on the seabed. on an earlier, related study. from the centre of the pit to researchers at Florida Florida’s west coast but Marine creatures like the spiny “Its sea-floor associates the periphery and expelling State University reveals also found on watery lobster and the vermilion snap- include commercially valu- them through their gills and the red grouper to be an ledges and in crevices per then use these structures as able species such as vermil- mouths, then brushing off and caverns from North their habitats. ion snapper, black grouper the rocks with their tail fins.” architect and ecosystem Carolina to Brazil, the red Led by Florida State University’s and spiny lobsters. If the ■ engineer at heart. grouper excavates and maintains Felicia Coleman, the research- groupers are overfished,

7 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Fish Communicate in Secret Certain coral reef fish use ultraviolet (UV) vision to tell the difference between their own and other similar species.

of the same and a different species (with similar overall body col- oration but different UV facial patterns) in conditions in which the UV markings could and could not be seen. Indeed, the They observed that there was only otherwise rather a difference in territorial reaction manner plain-looking Ambon when the UV facial patterns could directly The UV vision damselfish may even be be seen, demonstrating that these compara- able to recognise individuals patterns are necessary for the fish ble to the may act as a by their faces, in much the same to discriminate between their own face-based secret channel way as humans do, researchers and another species. recognition of communica- have found of individuals In further experiments, in which performed tion because it is The UV vision may act as a secret the fish were shown pictures of the by humans. invisible to the channel of communication different facial markings, the team However, because it is invisible to the fishes’ demonstrated that they were major pred- fishes’ predators predators. reacting to the specific shape atory reef “We observed that certain fish of the ultraviolet patterns on the fish like coral trout, wrasse and had very distinctive ultraviolet intruder’s face, not simply to their rock cod do not seem to have the markings on their faces—and we ultraviolet colour, she says. ability to see ultraviolet markings. wondered what they were using them for,” said “We came to the conclusion “This means the damselfish are Dr Ulrike Siebeck that the fish are using ultraviolet effectively exploiting a secret Ambon dam- of the Vision reflecting facial patterns to dis- channel of communication Centre and criminate between their own spe- among themselves and with other selfish may the University cies and other, similar-looking fish similar, but harmless species—one even be able of Queensland species—also that they are react- which cannot be detected by the to recognise (UQ). ing to the actual pattern, not sim- fish that prey on them. ply the ultraviolet light they were individuals In a series of seeing.” “It also means damselfish can by their faces, carefully con- see a wider spectrum of colours trolled experi- Differences between patterns on than we can, which is remarkable in much the ments, the team the faces of individuals suggest when you consider how colourful same way as exposed male that Ambon damselfish may also coral reefs are naturally. They must Ambon dam- be able to use the patterns for the find them even more colourful humans do selfish to males discrimination of individuals, in a places than we do.” ■

8 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Shrimp found under the Antarctic ice Scientists have expressed surprise over the discovery of a shrimp-like creature found beneath the Antarctic. The shrimps and a jellyfish were discovered some 200 meters below the ice where it was previously believed that only microbes could exist.

A team from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was surprised when they lowered a video camera to get the first long look at the underbelly of an ice sheet in Antarctica. A curious shrimp-like creature came swimming by and then parked itself on the camera’s cable. Scientists also pulled up a tentacle they believe came from a foot-long jellyfish. ■ N ASA Lyssianasid amphipod found beneath Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf Click to view video New website for jellyfish affectionados A new website set up by Monterey In addition to tracking jelly blooms, Bay Aquarium Research Institute the Jellywatch site also allows visitors (MBARI) researcher Steve Haddock to report other unusual ocean events combines marine biology and social such as red tides or mass strandings networking to create a resource of other marine creatures. Haddock that both scientists and ocean lov- and his fellow researchers are also ers can appreciate. Visitors can not interested in historical observations only post their sightings and photos, of jelly strandings. “The historical they can also compare their sight- record is really hard to reconstruct”

ings with those of beachcombers said Haddock. He also encourages C O mm ON s around the globe. people to report the lack of jellies at

“People have been talking about times or places when they might be Cr E a TIVE jelly blooms increasing around the expected. “No-jelly observations are world, but we don’t really have a lot useful as well,” Haddock said. of data on this. So, it’s hard to know Designed with input from the how localized these events are. Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Jel- That’s why we created this website. lywatch site is kid-friendly and very The idea is that everyday people easy to use. Visitors can report can get involved in a real ocean sightings anonymously or register to

research project. Their eyes are simplify the entry of multiple observa- Clark AN d E rs ON/A qua I mag s - important instruments in this study,” tions. www.jellywatch.com ■ Medusa Jellyfish, Pt. Lobos, Carmel, said Haddock. California, USA

9 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED essay Welcome to Papua Text by Peter Symes Maldives Scuba Diving, a Maldives-based company that organises dive trips to the Maldives sues Scubaboard over New ‘torts, injury — Assault, Libel, and Slander’ Guinea This tall tale has its beginnings in ScubaBoard caught wind of this, removed any the tragic events that happened they began to spread the word of the allegedly during a liveaboard trip in the on the forum, warning others libellous posts. Maldives on 28 May 2008 when about the owner’s history. 11 divers suddenly fell ill and one According to MSD—who claims The letter of diver—the 36-year old Russian they were nothing more than the the law national, Roman Rudakov—died travel agent for the diving trip As far as we due to contaminated air in the and the local crew was the one could ascertain scuba tanks. According to one responsible for the safety of their in most countries first hand witness, the levels of guests—the tone on the forum and jurisdictions, carbon monoxide were meas- crossed into libel and slander. the administra- ured to be ten times that of tors of online acceptable levels. Ten million dollars forum cannot be The incident was reported On 29 January 2010, MSD filed held account- by much of the global dive a libel suit against InterMedia able for utterings media and widely discussed on Publications, one of the forum’s of their users and many scuba diving forums and members—a Canadian they iden- bloggers. discussion boards, including tified as Brian Verbonac—as well Since this case ScubaBoard, which resulted in as one hundred “John Does” they has been filed in a great deal of negative pub- do not know the identity of. MSD a Florida court, the licity for the organiser of the is seeking an excess of ten million U.S. Communications trip, a company, which at that dollars for “damages“. Their law- Decency Act applies, time traded under the name, suit can be downloaded here. which in its section 230 Strictly Maldives. In response, members of Scuba- states that, “No provider or user of Click to read the full lawsuit Sometime after the incident, the Board have rallied around their an interactive computer service company either changed their administrators, raising money to shall be treated as the publisher name or the company’s owner, help defend the case, which they or speaker of any information Papua New Guinea Gundi Holm, who is an Austrian anticipate may cost them up to provided by another information national, started up a new com- US$100,000. The administrators at content provider.” is located in the pany named, Maldives Scuba ScubaBoard have not (as of the In other words, merely giving coral triangle of Diving (MSD). When members of date of publication of this issue) someone a platform that they use marine biodiversity with the highest diversitydi of tropical ﬁsh and coral in The boomerang and a ten million dollar the world. lawsuit brought against Scubaboard www.pngdive.com

10 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED essay Freedom of the press, is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and Because you can’t stay underwater forever... to make a libelous statement does not boomerangs are published materials. While such duty by an employee of make one liable for those statements. on display, as a subcontractor. Join the World’s Largest Online Diving Community Libel cases are generally regarded as they will hope- freedom mostly implies the absence But as tour operators, very difficult to win even in the best of fully serve as a of interference from an overreach- they are expected to and you will never be without a buddy again. cases, as a heavy burden of proof rest reminder that vet their subcontrac- ing state, its preservation may be in the World’s Largest Online Scuba on the plaintiff. And after we have read these cases tend tors and vouch for their Imagine a resource that will answer Community and find the answers you through the posts and available back- swing around sought through constitutional or quality, too. So, when in- almost every question you ever had are looking for. It’s free, it’s huge, it’s ground information, there seems to be no and hit one in cidents do happen, the about diving: photography, gear, phys- other legal protections. ultra friendly, and we are waiting for meat on that bone. So, what motives re- the neck.” operator is left with an ics, flora, fauna, destinations, wrecks, you to show up! ScubaBoard.com is the ally drive the plaintiff to push forward with Indeed! Just by unpleasant and challeng- technical diving, and then imagine ultimate place to begin your research a case that seems largely frivolous and placing the complaint, MSD has now ing situation to clear up and public rela- this resource is but a click away. What and to find a host of dive buddies all unfounded? Hold on to that thought— cast the spotlight—and not a very flatter- tions to handle. That is just the nature of would you call it? Well, we call it around the world with a common goal: we’ll get back it shortly. ing one—on the incident and made sure the business, and one has to be prepared ScubaBoard.com to share our underwater heaven in a Typical lines of defence in libel cases that most of the global diving community to face the music and take responsibility. Join over 100,000 users, including 1200 safe and friendly atmosphere! See you would be: now knows what went down and how Scuba Instructors, hundreds of manu- on the ‘Board tonight! they handled the event. Secondly, it is Don’t shoot the messenger facturers and so many dive experts • Truth: The statements were derogatory generally perceived bad form to shoot Imagine if Toyata had sued the press for but were accurate. the messenger or blame members of the reporting the recent accidents involv- • Opinion: The statements were not public for forming an opinion. ing Toyota vehicles, some of which were intended to be taken as fact and were fatal, too—accidents presumably caused fatal accident on the liveaboard, is not Had MSD handled this incident prop- merely an expression of one’s beliefs. How not to handle PR by faulty pedals—and sued members of only paramount to protecting the com- erly from the onset, issued the required • Fair Comment on a Matter of Public In- This seems to be a classic example of the general public for airing their opin- pany’s good standing, but it can even statements to the press and the public, terest: Statements reasonably believed how not to handle public relations. ions or outrage? Instaed, the president of be turned into an advantage. That is why engaged in the necessary dialogue and to be accurate on a matter of public In real life, bad things happen also the carmaker apologized to the public businesses hire spin doctors and press of- responded professionally to the public interest, such as a scuba diving acci- to good people, conscientious profes- and to the U.S. Congress and took action ficers, and why executives get training in outcry, they would have eventually come dent. sionals and quality- and safety-oriented to correct matters. Nobody is perfect. how to handle the press. What it comes out on top and probably even won some • Statements Made in Good Faith: companies. So, let us assume, just for the Products will occasionally fail even after down to is that, in such cases, one must respect, too, for proper and professional Statements reasonably believed to be sake of the argument, that the plaintiff’s diligent and thorough testing—accidents assume responsibility for what happened, conduct, because that builds trust. In- true and can be supported, but later operations were indeed quality-oriented will happen. What really matters is how be humble and deal with the critics stead, they elected to pursue this matter turned out to be false (such as quoting and diligently-managed, and this fatal these situations are handled. tactfully, explaining what measures one by filing a case in court, which will only an incorrect news article). accident occurs nonetheless. Do we be- is going to take to prevent the problem serves to redicule the dive industry and lieve the plaintiff was at fault? Not really. PR 101 from happening again. Denial or blaming enriches nobody but the lawyers. The On all these accounts, it seems that Scu- Obviously, it was a case of dereliction of Handling situations correctly, such as the others are the worst things one can do. boomerang has indeed come around. ■ baBoard would have a pretty good case. A fatal accident did happen. Opinions will be formed and aired. The incident

was a matter of public interest and of d O ma IN public debate and so forth. A legal counsellor told to us that lawyers have a saying about libel suits, which goes approximately like this: “The one who thinks of suing for libel should make his/her deliberations at the ethnographic u . s CON s TIT u TION / P u B l IC museum’s Australian exhibit where the d ET a I l O f THE 11 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news

Purple Heart Dive Team develops dive program for Purple Heart recipients Purple Heart Divers, a non-profit Afghanistan. Regardless of your of underwater organization dedicate to supporting stand on the war issue, the fact is diving with wounded heroes—American soldiers that we are there, and that many camaraderie of wounded in action—have devel- brave men and women have been team efforts in a oped a dive program for Purple killed or wounded while serving our unique sub-surface Heart recipients who want to expe- country ... They are awarded the experience. rience scuba diving as part of the Purple Heart in appreciation of their Through these rehabilitation process. injuries.” programs, One of the organization’s goals is The organization is interested in those who to “give something back” to these the heroes’ stories and wants to have been national heroes and thank them for help them share their heroic experi- wounded their service and sacrifice, as stated ences and rehabilitation process in the line of on their website: “Over 30,000 of our with children and adults of the com- duty will take military have been wounded dur- munity. part in pro- ing the engagements in Iraq and The team finds funding for train- grams designed ing and certification of Purple Heart to accommodate heroes. First dives are reserved for their special needs divers who are already certified. while providing them a life- Purple Heart Dive Team was es- altering perspective often needed tablished in South Florida to provide to adjust to the severe injuries they an in-water scuba diving opportu- endured.” nity for Purple Heart recipients. They Purple Heart Dive Team’s primary provide the scuba experience as goal is to help disabled heroes get a self-esteem building and rehabili- “Back in Action” while readjusting tation program in a setting where skills to lead normal lives. boats are close to artificial and Divers interested in getting in- natural reefs. volved with the Purple Heart Dive “Our mission is to provide a unique Team and want more information or and memorable form of rehabilita- to make a donation can email Gary tion combining the physical exercise Levine: [email protected] ■ Three dive computers - Unlimited possibilities

www.OceanicWorldwide.com

12 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED DIGITAL UNDERWATER In the Future: PHOTOGRAPHY Architecture NEW on the ocean Flotating cities for the Maldives? The tiny island nation of the Maldives is under serious threat from rising sea levels caused by climate change as no part of the 1200-island republic is more than six feet above sea level. Now, in one of several counter measures, the tiny country has teamed with Netherlands-based Docklands/Dutch Watervalley to create a series of floating islands complete with leisure facilities like a nine-hole golf course, pools and a convention centre.

A NEW BOOK BY LAWSON WOOD The project will include a star-like and minimize changes to coastal For more information, go to: formation of floating cities, provid- morphology. ing the Maldives’ people with a www.lawsonwood.com place to live after the rising sea Gyre Seascraper levels have washed away their The Gyre by the Canadian vision- island nation. ary Keith Dewey, the man behind Gyre goes a step further by juxtapos- the Zigloo, is a conceptual floating that footprint to the ocean, and is Designed by architect Koen ing development that has been perhaps its greenest feature. Its unique Olthuis, the renderings for the designed as an underwater design permits the simultaneous appli- amphibious mini-cities with the skyscraper. The development cation of wind, solar and tidal energy Citadel floating apartment com- will bring scientists and vaca- generation technologies thereby mak- plex and the amazing floating tioners together to understand ing it truly ‘off-grid’. homes appear to depict star- the ocean, without polluting its shaped, tiered islands with indoor delicate ecosystem. Peaking at a The center piece of the design features spaces hidden under lush green- depth of 400m, the development a double-hulled vortex with both hulls roof terraces, complete with will provide space for a comfort- being clad in reinforced glass, where interior pools and beaches. While able living and working environ- each of the floor levels are essentially exact design details of these new ment, including space for shops, a layering of concentric rings ranging floating islands are still unavail- restaurants, gardens and recrea- in size from 30,000m2 down to 600m2. able, the Dutch Docklands has tion. Inclinators riding along the inner struc- built a special expertise in creat- tural ribs provide for vertical/diagonal ing water developments using As much as a skyscraper is an transportation between floors. Total methods and procedures that economical method of reducing floor area of the entire structure (levels, reduce impact on underwater life humankind’s footprint on land, radial arms, barriers) is approximately 212,000m2 (or roughly 40 football fields). The Gyre’s radial arms feature a pedes- THIS PAGE: Citadel floating trian upper level and a transit system apartment complex 13 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The Gyre’s radial arms feature a pedestrian upper level and a transit system on the lower level. The submerged The barriers create an inner harbor Water-Scraper sustains news a small forest, while the lower and a port big enough for even the world’s largest ships levels contain spaces for its inhabitants to live and work. The building is kept upright using a system of ballasts food. The surface of the submerged aided by a set of squid- skyscraper sustains a small forest, like tentacles that while the lower levels contain spaces generate kinetic for its inhabitants to live and work. energy The building is kept upright using a system of ballasts aided by a set of squid-like tentacles that generate kinetic energy. The building itself is kept upright using a system of ballast and balancing tanks. The tentacles also serve as balancing elements as they, in generating their power, are constantly moving with the rhythm of the tide. The buoyancy and ballast controls are placed at the lowest portions to create the proper counterforce for keeping the building upright. ■

evolo.us/competition zigloo.ca dutchdocklands.com

on the lower level to access to the outer generates its own electricity using wave, protective barriers. The barriers create an wind and solar power, and it produces its inner harbor and port of approximately own food through farming, aquaculture 1.25km in diameter, accommodating the and hydroponic techniques. The design, needs of even the world’s largest ships. which won a special mention in this year’s eVolo Skyscraper Competition, expands Water-Scraper the concept of a floating island into a full- Sarly Adre Bin Sarkum’s Water-Scraper is a fledged underwater skyscraper that har- futuristic self-sufficient floating city, which vests renewable energy and grows its own Water-Scraper 14 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED news

“Peek-a-boo” Capernwray Diving Centre has just created an incomparable new dive by sinking the largest underwater attraction ever installed at a UK inland dive site

Airliner becomes new dive site in England ODEX 2011 5TH ANNUAL ™ A 70ft Hawker Siddeley 748 was submerged into a quarry at Capernwray Diving Centre UNDERWATER FESTIVAL in Northern England. RNA Showgrounds Brisbane Australia Australasia-wide Capernwray Dive Centre has created a new reason described the aircraft: “What is particularly impres- September 30th – October 2nd September 9th to 18th to head to the Lake District in the North West region sive is the size of this aircraft; she is simply huge! The of England, a newly sunken massive airliner, the larg- fuselage is 67 feet long, the wingspan is 100 feet and Brisbane Australia est underwater attraction ever installed at an inland the whole thing stands 25 feet high! The first divers • International Dive and Travel September 30th - October 2nd dive site in the United Kingdom. Months of prepara- have already visited this stunning wreck and have Resort Pavilion tions over the winter and some GB£25,000 invested by returned to the surface in awe at her sheer scale and • Australasia-wide underwater the center brought the Hawker Siddeley 748, a 1960’s visual impact underwater ... With a shining white fuse- • Marine Science and Conservation Hub photo and video shootout full-sized 48-seat airliner powered by two Rolls Royce lage, she is resplendent in her Emerald Airways paint • Paddle and Ocean Sports Zone Dart turboprop engines, to its final resting place. scheme and new ‘Northern Diver’ logo, added as • Marine Visions V - open medium In a recent press release, Capernawray Dive Centre a ‘thank you’ to a great Lancashire company who • Water sport events around Brisbane art competition kindly contributed to the costs of the project.” • Silent auction, prizes and giveaways • Festival Fringe events all over Australasia The aircraft, which is a series 2A • Over $100,000 in prizes HS748 having an official registration • Seminars, workshops and including $10,000 cash of G-BVOV, has an interesting history. presentations Built at the end of this aircraft’s pro- • Showcase of top 100 winning shots duction run in 1980, the craft was first • Underwater Festival Winners and videos at ODEX 2011 employed by a Portuguese airline, fly- Showcase ing between Lisbon and the Azores. • Awards Ceremony and Underwater Then, she was re-registered in the UK • Underwater Festival Awards Party Festival Party at ODEX 2011 and flew routes from Liverpool under the Emerald Airways banner until 2006 when that company finally closed its Submerge your senses Be part of it, wherever you are! doors. The craft experienced some adventures along the way including a dodgy landing at Guernsey Airport in early 2006 when the pilot had a bit of oceaniadiveexpo.com underwaterfestival.org a mishap and managed to run off the end of the runway. ■ SHOW ORGANISERS 15 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED dive in. explore. discover news

Diver badly burned by heat packs in freak accident

Surgeon warns scuba acetate, water and metal. About managed to ascend and com- divers against using heat 20 minutes into the dive when he plete decompression stops, which was 80 metres below the surface, took about two hours to com- packs on deep dives his pads ruptured. The diver suf- plete. He was airlifted by Coast after treating a man who fered deep chemical-related Guard helicopter to Cork Airport received severe burns in a burns to 35 percent of his body. and was rushed by ambulance freak accident off the Cork They were made worse by the to Cork University Hospital (CUH). fact that the polyester and nylon He has had seven operations but coast last year. in his dive suits melted. has since been discharged and is recovering well. A 31-year old diver was part Doctors believe that due to high of a team diving the Lusitania pressure and the high concen- “Air-activated heat packs should when the accident occurred last trations of oxygen in his suit, the never be used at high pressures,” September. Inside his undersuit he chemical reaction happened John Curran, the plastic surgeon had four air-activated heat packs, faster than normal, generating who treated the diver for his burns one at each shoulder and hip. higher temperatures. said in an article in the latest The pads generate heat through edition of the Journal of Plastic, a chemical reaction using sodium Despite his injuries and agony, he Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. “Because of the high pressure and high oxygen, auto- ignition started. The suit was dry on the inside and completely sealed.

“He was lucky that the fire burst his suit open and the in-flowing of sea water put the fire out and relieved his excruciating pain. That allowed him to make a controlled ascent in two hours,” Curran added.

IEditors note: We haven’t been able to ascertain whether the heat packs in question were intended or desgned for scuba diving activities. ■ RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by German U-boat U-20 on 7 May 1915 16 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Some pipefish are good fathers, PETEr SymEs some are not...

its young before giving birth, but later Snake pipefish Entelurus aequoreus birth, but it may not choose to make the effort. (Linnaeus, 1758). Pipefishes are found pipefishes The key factor for this attitude: How worldwide and are especially prevalent likely will never win any the male feels about the mother. in tropical and subtropical waters. They Father of The Year awards— “The bottom line seems to be, if the somewhat resemble a stretched-out their attitude towards their offspring male likes the mom, the kids are treat- version of a seahorse. Like the can range from total love to total ed better,” Paczolt explains. “Why this seahorse, the male pipefish becomes pregnant and neglect, according to new findings occurs, we don’t fully understand, but gives birth. Male from Texas A&M University researchers. our findings are quite specific about pipe- Kim Paczolt and Adam Jones, this relationship between the male fishes and their seahorse researchers in the Department of pipefish and its mate. If the male pre- cousins are the only males that Biology, found that the male pipefish fers the female, he treats their mutual actually become pregnant and give can be a nurturing father as it tends offspring better.” ■

Deep Sea Fish finish up Nestling right next to Advocacy group vows suit to the clear blue sea their Spinach Tasik Ria Resort & Spa stop swimming with manatees at is an intimate Scientists have for the first time cap- boutique-style Crystal River, Florida tured footage of one of the most dive resort in abundant species of deep sea fish Manado feeding on plant material. Though the fish were artificially fed—with spinach—it demonstrates they have much www.tasikria.com wider tastes than previously thought. Dr Rachel Jeffreys and her colleagues of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research simulated Egypt creates its first marine a plant food fall by dropping spinach bait into the deep North Atlantic sea, reserve on its Mediterranean coast 185km off the coast of Portugal. At- tached to a rig containing the bait Egypt wants visitors to discover its Mediterranean was a video camera, which recorded coast at a newly declared marine reserve being any animals that ventured close. established near the border with Libya, the govern- Soon after the bait was dropped ment said. Falling within the Gulf of el-Salloum, the 3000m underwater, at least three 383 km2 protected area is home to over 160 species species of deep sea fish, grenadiers of birds and over 10,000 marine species. The reserve Citing record manatee to sue on Monday giving the U.S. temperatures fall. (Coryphaenoides armatus and C. falls under a number of international and regional deaths this year, an envi- Fish and Wildlife Service 60 days to A record 641 manatees were mediterraneus) and cusk eels (Spec- conventions, including the Convention on Biological close the spring or face a lawsuit. counted in Citrus and Hernando tunculus sp) began to attack it, eating Diversity along with the World Heritage Convention. ronmental watchdog group Annually, an estimated 100,000 county waters in January during the away at the spinach. The declaration of the protected area as a nature wants to close the popular tourists swim with manatees in and extended cold snap. By mid March, “We were very surprised and excit- reserve aims to protect it against the environmental Kings Spring in Crystal River around Kings Spring at the head- cold stress had driven the death ed by the results,” said Jeffreys. ■ problems. “The goal is to protect endangered spe- to swimmers and divers. waters of the Crystal River in Kings count to 431 for 2010, topping last cies ... and encourage ecotourism in the reserve Bay. The spring is one of the primary year’s record of 429 deaths for the area, putting it on the global ecotourism map,” Public Employees for Environmental sources for the river for the warm entire year. ■ Environment Minister Maged George said. ■ Responsibility filed a notice of intent water that manatees seek when

17 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HANDICAPPED DIVERS

The International Association of Handicapped Divers (IAHD) is a non-proﬁt Training organization that or- ganizes training pro- bulletin grams for disabled Fraser Bathgate divers. The organiza- Inteview by Gunild Pak Symes Edited by tion offers a range of Photographs courtesy of IAHD & Flemming Thyge Peter Symes courses on different subjects very much Fraser Bathgate, Vice President exclusion for a lot of people that are And how did you get involved with like the PADI-system and Director of Training for the excluded anyway. It wasn’t just peo- IAHD? I had obviously been, being “New hope for divers with disabilities”of diver education. ple with spinal injuries in wheel chairs, in a wheelchair myself, interested in You can read more International Association of but also people with cerebral palsy, trying to give something back to the about diving for Handicapped Divers (IAHD), Down’s syndrome, muscular dystro- diving community which we felt was disabled people at tells X-RAY MAG what drives phy and spinal bifida… thingsDisabled like that very, very important because Divers a lot InternationalIAHD’s international him to dive off his wheel- which means that we getA the new freedom approach of times to diversteaching tend to people take out, with they disabilities to scuba dive is promised with the formation of a newwebsite: that everyone else experiences. don’t actually give back. And I felt it www.iahd.org chair and into the depths of Also one of the benefitsnon-profit of water organisation,was important Disabled to try to give Divers something International . the underwater realm, why is that it is a great back to the div- Fraser Bathgate will Founders of the DDI are two from traditional methods of work of Deptherapy, the Bathgate hopes that individ- therapy anyway, and ing community as a be at the January Shark Life launches he wants to teach other disa- men with a combined 30 teaching divers with disabili- charity Bathgate set up to ual diving professionals and also leaving the wheel whole. 2005 Danish Dive bled people how to dive and years of working with disa- ties.” help rehabilitate through div- dive centres will be quick chair behind. It’s the Show in Copenha- Shark Diver courses bled divers—Fraser Bathgate, ing Coalition forces personnel to take up the opportuni- Choose from seven different shark abled dive instructors how to only sport where we Was your disability gen where IAHD will its first president, and Vice- Scuba diving has been seriously wounded in the Iraq ties offered by DDI courses. species. Learn about feeding can leave the wheel something that came run a training pro- use alternative approaches President Flemming Thyge, shown to offer numerous and Afghani conflicts. “These training programmes behaviour, biology, habitats. Have chair behind. The later in life? Yes, I had gram over the week- and teaching methods that both previously leading benefits in terms of the social can help to differentiate a greater understanding of sharks. ■ other great thing is a climbing accident. end. To register for lights of the International and physical rehabilitation of “DDI programmes are them from their com- encourage disabled individu- it’s also the only sport I was never a diver the course, contact Association of Handicapped people with disabilities. Many designed to work in conjunc- petitors, and provide als to take the plunge. where we can go before, so I was the Flemming Thyges at: Divers (IAHD). All the DDI’s find that, given the correct tion with those of existing added value to their into a shop and buy first person in the www.thygesdykker- board members are volun- equipment and appropriate diver training agencies,” said businesses.” Tell us about yourself and the organi- straight out of the world in a wheel- center.dk teers. training, the restrictions they Fraser Bathgate. “Our new zation… The IAHD was set up to help shop. We don’t have chair to qualify as an experience on land disap- layer of courses allows peo- For more information train people in to have instructor. So that is “Our intention with DDI is to pear with the near-weight- ple who would have difficulty on Disabled Divers scuba diving that things unique. ensure that our students and lessnes they experience fulfilling standard agency International, go to weren’t able to go custom able bodied again. It’s good. their needs always have pri- under water. requirements and standards www.ddivers.org or through the nor- made. The And how did your ority,” says Bathgate. “The to experience diving safely. contact info@ddivers. mal instructional only thing teachers respond So, you felt happier down in the Fraser Bathgate new training programme “Regular recreation involving We achieve this through org. ■ methods with that we Fraser Bathgate to you? It took me water? I felt a lot happier, a lot safer we’re offering moves away physical exercise engenders modifications and enhance- some of the major do have a long time to find and a lot more comfortable in the better physical and mental ments to standard proce- Cofounder and training agencies. to have custom made any- someone who would be willing to water. health,” says Fraser Bathgate. dures and equipment.” Vice-President We felt that was time is a wet suit because teach me. When they did finally start “Scuba diving is also a social Flemming Thyge the wrong thing, obviously body shapes are to teach me, it was found that I could Do you have pain above water and sport, and being able to Another set of DDI courses is has over the so we wanted to different. But everything do just about as much as everyone then less under? I know that some peo- interact with non-disabled available for training instruc- years worked introduce a meth- else can be bought directly else in the water. In fact, at certain ple that we have worked with have closely divers can have a tremen- tors. “For the professionals, od of teaching from the shop, so they’re points I could do things slightly better had things where they have pain on with Fraser dous positive effect.” we provide the tools and that would mean not being penalized for because my mobility came back when the surface, but when we take them Bathgate The official launch of DDI knowledge required to train there was no having a disability. I was in the water, so it is like you are under the water, the pain reduces. We on offering took place on 27 March at and certify disabled divers diving to the London International Dive safely, within the various limits the dis- Show, but Bathgate said he imposed by individual stu- abled had already gathered exten- dents’ ability. Work with disa- 53 X-RAY MAG : 3 : 2005 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL EQUIPMENT & NEWS sive ECOLOGY international supportPROFILES for bled divers PORTFOLIO is very rewarding, CLASSIFIED its formation. because the students share the excitement and joy of Its courses are designed to their experiences with their dovetail seamlessly with the instructors,” said Bathgate.

18 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Underwater CSI training course If you are a diver and are interested in taking a new look at the underwater world through the eyes of a forensic scientist, then a novel 3-day course may be just evidence. The evidence is not dures in an effort to increase suc- the thing you’ve been waiting for. removed from the water until cessful prosecution of violators. Not only will you play a legitimate the underwater crime scene has part in conducting an actual been properly and completely The course is hosted by The underwater crime scene inves- documented, all facts and poten- Central Caribbean Marine tigation, but you will also learn tial information are obtained, and Institute (CCMI) Little Cayman how to analyze the data and the best possible way to remove Research Centre as part of its construct a proper defense, using the evidence with minimal dam- Dive with a Researcher (DWAR) forensic techniques that you will learn in the program.

So, what exactly is Underwater CSI? Essentially, it is a set of pro- tocols and techniques for investigating underwater crime scenes; as such, it can be quite useful in determining short-term violations that have had negative impacts on our reefs. The results of these investigations can be documented, recorded and analysed in a sys- tematic fashion using tool kits developed to support these types of investigations. Similar techniques age is determined. Program. CCMI, which is located are now being used worldwide by on Little Cayman in the Cayman marine enforcement officers, en- The objective of this study is to Islands, was established to create vironment assessment agencies, develop methodology to accu- a regional centre for excellence coral reef researchers, litigators rately describe unlawful activi- in coral reef science. With a pro- and natural resource managers. ties, quantifiable damage to the gramme of continuing education resource, and associate a mon- and outreach to school children, The application of the forensic sci- etary value useful in determining students and coral scientists, it ences to detect and document mitigation relevant to damage offers a base for the study and illegal activities related to coral inflicted to a reef in addition to monitoring of reef biology on Little reefs provides a tool to find and current fines and penalties. The Cayman Island. prosecute suspects, assign mon- experimental design focuses in etary value to damages caused adapting and validating under- The lead diver and instructor to a reef as part of illegal activi- water forensic techniques cur- will be marine forensic biologist, ties, and to provide information rently in use in other areas of the Dr Hector Cruz-Lopez, who is a to the judicial system regarding forensic sciences. Further, divers professor of Forensic Science at the magnitude of some of these will look and discuss ways to uti- the Palm Beach State College crimes. lize this methodology to identify Criminal Justice Institute and human activities that affect coral serves on the National Forensic Unlike search and recovery reefs that are negligent or unlaw- Science Initiative at West Virginia operations, underwater forensic ful. The findings of this research will University. ■ activities focus on identification be incorporated into Coral Reef and documentation of potential Crime Scene Investigation proce- www.reefresearch.org

19 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck Bronze age wreck found off Devon One of the world’s oldest shipwrecks has been discovered off the rap English coast after lying on the seabed for almost 3,000 years.

surveys of the site; given the closeness of the two sites (the designated areas overlap) Edited by it seemed probable Mathias Carvalho that there was some connection between the two. The Bronze Age site was named 800-year-old shipwrecks the Salcombe B Site to differentiate it from the original 17th century found in Baltic Sea site. In total, 295 artefacts Swedish experts say dozens of centuries-old shipwrecks have been found by a have so far been gas company building an underwater pipeline between Russia and Germany. recovered, weighing a total of more than SO u TH WE s T ar ITI m E M A r CH a EO l O g IC al G r O u P 84kg. The cargo re- The oldest wreck probably dates “We have managed to identify even be from the Middle Ages,” covered includes 259 back to medieval times and 12 shipwrecks, and nine of them he said, stressing that “this dis- Archaeologists have described the who were initially investigating a copper ingots and 27 could be up to 800 years old, are considered to be fairly old,” covery offers enormous culture- vessel, which is thought to date 17th century wreck, which went tin ingots. Also found was a bronze while the others are likely from Norman, a senior advisor with historical value”. back to around 900 B.C., as being down close by. leaf sword, two stone artefacts that the 17th to 19th centuries, said the heritage board, told AFP. a “bulk carrier” of its age, carrying could have been sling shots, and Peter Norman, of Sweden’s “We think many of the ships are The shipwrecks were discovered an extremely valuable cargo of In 2004, the team decided to con- three gold wrist torcs—or bracelets. National Heritage Board. from the 17th and 18th centu- during a probe by the Russian- tin and hundreds of copper ingots centrate on the southeast area, ries, and we think some could led Nord Stream consortium of from the continent when it sank. and a palstave axe head was The team have yet to uncover any the sea bed route its planned located in September that year. of the vessel’s structure, which is gas pipeline from Russia to Archaeologists believe the cop- No longer was the team looking for likely to have eroded away. the European Union will take per—and possibly the tin—was 17th century artefacts, but Bronze www.swmag.org ■ through the Baltic. being imported into Britain and Age ones. It turned out that the originated in a number of differ- pot handle and adze located in “They used sonar equipment ent countries throughout Europe, 2002 are also from the Bronze Age, first and discovered some un- rather than from a single source, and following a re-assessment of evenness along the sea bot- demonstrating the existence of a the original assemblage at the tom ... so they filmed some complex network of trade routes British Museum, some of the origi- of the uneven areas, and we across the continent. nal artefacts recovered were also could see the wrecks,” Nor- identified as Bronze Age. man explained. Academics at the University of Ox- ford are carrying out further analy- Since 2004, SWMAG has located The Nord Stream project, sis of the cargo in order to establish and recovered a significant in which Russia’s OAO its exact origins. number of Bronze Age artefacts Gazprom holds a 51 percent that date to the Penard period stake, has uncovered scores The wreck has been found in just and are believed to originate of other objects during sea- eight to ten metres of water in a predominantly from France. This bed searches of the route, bay near Salcombe, south Devon, makes them contemporary to the including about 80 sea mines by a team of amateur marine artefacts from Moor Sand found and a washing machine. ■ archaeologists from the South West by Phillip Baker in 1977 and Keith S u PP l IE d Maritime Archaeological Group Muckelroy et al during subsequent

20 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED the dive news network presents The battle for Ancona’s bounty the 3rd AnnUAl Courts curb bounty hunters seeking torpedoed liner’s £15m bullion DIVE & TRAVEl EXPO It is still not very clear what exactly “preserving the administratively make money. The only accept- happened on 7 November 1915, closed status of the case”. She able project might be a non-profit between the German U-boat 38 stressed that, “There is no dispute -making one for scientific and May 21 -23, 2010 and the Italian-American pas- between Odyssey and the Italian historical research, with the agree- senger ship, the SS Ancona. The government.” ment of all the nations involved in tacoma, washington, U.S.A. U-boat attack, near Sardinia, sunk the disaster.” ■ the liner and sealed the fate of A foreign ministry spokesman, • 250 Exciting • Try Scuba FREE Exhibitor Booths more than 200 people, out of however, declaired that lawyers in • Try Scuba FREE the total 760 on board, when the America had taken action in the In June 2009, a Florida • 40 FREE Seminars transatlantic vessel went down. U.S. courts. That could mean that court judge instructed • Great Deals neither the salvagers nor the gov- Odyssey to hand over to • See The Latest On Travel What could be considered a war ernment could take any initiative the Spanish government grave also hides immense riches: without first giving 45 days’ notice about US$500m in gold Diving Products and silver coins, recov- • Meet Diving 12 barrels of gold and a silver ship- to the other party. ered from the “Black • Win Thousands Celebrities ment, a treasure estimated to be Swan” site, identified as Of Dollars In Prizes worth €17m (£15m / US$ 23.2m), a Italian officials view the site as the Nuestra Señora de loot that entices the imagination untouchable. Sebastiano Tusa, Las Mercedes—a Spanish of many bounty hunters around head of the government’s Marine frigate that sank off DISCOVER AN OCEAN OF POSSIBILITIES the globe. Heritage department on Sicily, Portugal in 1804. The firm declared to the local press: “It is is appealing against the The Italian government has a war cemetery that cannot be judgment. Future dealings www.diveandtravelexpo.com joined the race for the recovery. defiled by a company looking to with the Italian govern- Another heavy comment on the SS Ancona case will tell if the sal- petitor is Odyssey Marine vage firm will have a Exploration. A spokes- better outcome this time woman for the Florida- around. ■ based firm, currently searching for the lost treasure, said that it had filed a joint motion with the Italian government

The German U-boat 38 and the Italian-American passenger ship, the SS Ancona, on 7 November 1915 21 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck rap Asterix – the Mighty Gaul Endures A rare sea-going Roman-Celtic barge sent to The Mary Rose Trust in England for found on Christmas Day in 1982 is con- preservation procedures. Rule is better sidered to be the largest, most intact known for her work on the preservation sea-going vessel of its antiquity found of King Henry VIII’s famous flagship. The outside the Mediterranean. First located preservation work is believed to be large- in Guernsey’s St. Peter Port, England, the ly completed by early this year, and the vessel’s remaining timbers were found by feasibility of relocating the wreck back to It is believed diver Richard Keen, lying in the centre of Guernsey in being considered. that a cargo ship the narrow entrance to the harbor, thus dated from 620 being exposed by the propeller wash of It is supposed to be a risky, costly opera- B.C. ran aground vessels passing overhead. tion. Monaghan declared that, “It would near Isla Farallon need to be displayed in a ‘giant goldfish and Isla Grosa, off The find is considered an opportunity to tank’ or glass tank to keep the bugs and La Manga, Spain. Now, 26 centuries expand the understanding of the trade dust off and keep the humidity stable... if later, archaeolo- routes used in the period, due to the it gets too dry it will fall apart or too wet it gists from eleven pottery found that could have been will go mouldy.” countries are bring- made in areas as far away as Spain and ing these antique Algeria. Dr Jason Monaghan, from the A monograph written by Rule and objects to the Guernsey Museum, said that the Asterix is Monaghan is available, describing all light of day once d E A rqu EO l O g Í a S u B a C ÁTIC “one of only two of its type surviving and facts and the exploration missions that again. The ship it is Britain’s largest Roman object”. were undertook: A Gallo-Roman Trading was carrying an Na CION al Vessel from Guernsey – The Excavation elephant tusk with Banked by the Guernsey Maritime Trust’s and Recovery of a Third Century Phoenician inscrip- private funding, the wreck was studied Shipwreck. ■ tions, copper ingots El M us EO and stones contain- and cleaned up before eventually being ing silver and lead J.M. RO dr Í gu E z | Wreck from 600 B.C. discovered off Spain

The discovery of a Phoenician wreck beneath the sea off La Manga del Mar menor in Murcia, is being hailed by archaeologists as one of the most important discoveries in the Mediterranean. The ship’s nick- The find, which has been described 1,400 objects have been collected. Even silver and lead. Ceramic pots, which name, created by as one of the most important of all some of the wood from the bottom of were used for transporting fish and oil, the media, refers archaeological discoveries, appears the ship has survived since the 7th cen- have been found, too, as well as plates, to a small and to be the cargo of a commercial ship tury before Christ (620 B.C.), and has bowls, combs, ivory knife handles, fearless French carrying ivory from African elephants, been recovered. It is believed the vessel bronze needles and chandeliers. comic book char- amber and lots of ceramic objects. The measured approximately 15 metres long. acter, from the discovery has been kept secret for the It is believed the ship crashed into rocks only remaining free past three years by the team of divers The ivory tusks found measure between off the island, which are just a metre and village in Gaul, led by the Spaniard Juan Pinedo Reyes 70 and 150 centimetres with Phoenician a half below the surface. The ship would when it was a and the American Mark Edward Polzer. writing inscribed. They have come from have set sail from Cadiz and was prob- part of the Roman The recovery is taking place around a race of elephants, which are now ably heading towards Guardamar to Empire. Grosa Island and El Farallon Island, just believed to be extinct. There are also a factory there, or to deliver items to a www.asterix.com off La Manga. Over the last three years, copper ingots and stones containing prince living in the area. ■ A Gallo-Roman Trading Vessel

22 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED New Underwater Archaeological Site Designated Off Polyaigos Island, Greece

A shipwreck located as well as fragments of the ves- to between the end of the 5th off the small uninhab- sel’s anchor. The ancient vessel century B.C. and the first half was loaded with amphorae, of the 4th century B.C. At least ited Cycladic island of which are scattered around the three types of amphorae were Polyaigos in the central wreck in two main concentra- identified, one of which origi- Aegean will be desig- tions in depths of 25-49 meters nated from ancient Peparithos nated as an “underwater off the coast of Polyaigos. (the island of Skopelos), while the others were closely identi- archaeological site” by In addition, the shipwreck was fied with Classical Era ampho- Greece’s Culture Ministry. photographed and filmed in rae workshops of the northern detail, which allowed the crea- Aegean. The Polyaigos ship- The shipwreck, which was first tion of a high-definition photo- wreck, according to the minis- spotted in 2004, was excavated mosaic, while procedures have try’s announcement, cited by in November 2009 by underwa- been set in motion to designate the media, sheds light in the ter archaeologists who recov- the area as an underwater study of sea-borne commercial ered valuable archaeological archaeological site. routes of the Classical period objects, including amphorae and the movement of goods and ceramic vases dating back An analysis of the amphorae in the southwestern part of the to the 4th and 5th centuries B.C., recovered dated the wreck Cyclades island chain. ■

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23 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED wreck rap

THIS PAGE: Examples of the The Treasures Within the Treasure rare 1 reale coins

Text by Carol Tedesco Since 1992, my life has revolved around has made “the world go boundless lust for riches—and glory shipwreck-recovered coins. I have around.” Today, we go as well as souls to convert—had Many people will say that helped to clean them, have docu- online to move money—some- resulted in the con- they experience their “a-ha” mented and authenticated them, and times lots of it—from place to place. quest of much of the for some time have been writing a book But not so terribly long ago, money Caribbean, Mexico moments, or flashes of sud- about them. As I’ve said, dreams of was transported on wooden ships, and the Americas. den insight while in the shower. coins wake me up at night. and though these ships are often Silver was the most These people are very fortu- Since people first began trading with romantically memorialized as abundant treasure nate. When I am in the shower, I one another for goods and goodies, “golden galleons”, prior to the of the “Indies”, and money—in one form or another—truly California gold-rush of the mid- royal mints were typically think about how I need 1800’s, they established to control to clean the tiles. My insights were in truth and regulate a seem- occur at about 3:11 in the silver galle- ingly endless torrent of morning. With the rationale for ons. mineral wealth pouring With a from the mines. By 1622, doing so a complete mystery, desperate New World silver in the form I will suddenly sit bolt upright in need for money of the Spanish dollar was the bed, startling the be-Jesus out and a conviction most coveted and widely traded of entitlement to money on earth. of my partner Michael and cat acquire it at any Bleu. Then, I stumble off in the cost, the kingdom History dark to my office, bumping into of Spain’s approach The 1622, Tierra Firme Fleet galleon walls and furniture, muttering was to plunder the Santa Margarita was carrying almost resources of oth- 150,000 silver coins when she sank in about die-punches and assay- ers. By 1622, little the Florida Straits, but due to the widely er initials, to record whatever more than 100 years scattered nature of the wreck and the insight about shipwreck-recov- after the first voy- deep, rapidly shifting and treacher- ered coins has surfaced from age of Christopher ous sands that conceal her remains, Columbus, Spain’s only about a third of these have been the subterranean depths of my recovered to date. Therefore, when I subconscious. received a call that a conglomeration of encrusted silver coins discovered by A 16th century Keith Webb’s Blue Water Ventures of woodcut provides a glimpse into the workings of a mint; blanks being cut from sheets of silver, struck into coins, weighed and documented

24 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED A set of recreat- wreck ed coin dies help rap to illustrate the labor that went into crafting most money up until the 18th century. ® ® Photo by Carol legendsofdiving.com legendsofdiving.com Tedesco 2010 International Legends Of Diving 2010 International Legends Of Diving Key West had completed the conserva- the MexicoHonors City Western U.S. Pioneers Honors Western U.S. Pioneers tion process—and some of the coins were mint, another quite unusual—I was out the door and Tierra Firme Fleet headed to the conservation laboratory rarity. And, Aprilthey 12-19, 2010 April 12-19, 2010 almost before the call was ended. were old —some At the Key West, Florida, conservation of them among lab of Mel Fishers Treasures—Blue Water Wyndhamthe earliest coins Cozumel Resort & Spa Wyndham Cozumel Resort & Spa Ventures’ joint-venture partner, chief con- minted in the servator, John Corcoran, had carefully Americas. Cozumel, Mexico Cozumel, Mexico placed 35 shimmering, newly cleaned Their story was silver coins on a soft cloth. Among them epic. The desire $1133.00*to reach out and Seven touch Days at“When the we saw so many cities and vil- $1133.00* Seven Days at the were the expected eight reales value them wasFour irresistible. Star Wyndham Cozumellages Resort built in & the Spa waters of the lake and Four Star Wyndham Cozumel Resort & Spa coins minted in Potosi, Peru, (now Bolivia) In 1521, Spanish troops led by Hernán other large towns on dry land, and that during the reign of King Philip III, which Cortés laid siege to allTenochtitlán, your food a mag and- drinksstraight, level causeway leading into all your food and drinks have been the majority of Tierra Firme nificentTwo Aztec Dives city built a Day, on an Unlimited island in a FreeMexico Shore City, Diving. we were amazed, and we Two Dives a Day, Unlimited Free Shore Diving. Fleet coin discoveries. But marvelously, lake and connected to the mainland by said that it was like the enchanted things this discovery included seven small and a series of causeways. related in the book of Amadis because of delicate one reale coins—almost unheard The Spanish soldier and chronicler, the huge towers, temples and buildings of on shipwrecks of this period—that Bernal Díaz del Castillo, in his True History rising from the water, and all of masonry. were not from Potosi; they were from of the Conquest of New Spain wrote: And some of the soldiers even asked whether the things we saw were not a dream.” The conquistadors then proceeded to reduce Tenochtitlán to ruins. On that spot, they erected a new Spanish city. Here, Cortés built his own residence atop the S tJimtewar Bob Meistrell Dandead Orr Aztec rulerNick Moctezuma’s Icorn palace S tJimtewar Bob Meistrell Dan Orr Nick Icorn IScripps IScripps nstitute First Scuba Instructors President and CEO 1st CEO of PADI IScripps nstitute First Scuba Instructors President and CEO 1st CEO of PADI o Oceanog rf aphy class for L.A. County, of Divers AlertBlackened Network and encrustedLargest SCUBA silver ship- o Oceanog rf aphy class for L.A. County, of Divers Alert Network Largest SCUBA holds card #1. wreck recoveredcollection coins are in the cleaned world holds card #1. collection in the world Wet suit pioneer and Wet suit pioneer and founder of Body Glove. by a technique called electrolytic founder of Body Glove. reduction. First, coins are separated Surprise guest and come celebratefrom the the conglomeration, then Surprise guest and come celebrate the 50th anniversary of Nauisuspended individually from metal 50th anniversary of Naui alligator clips into a tub of soda ash and two Great legends from Mexico!!and water. The clips are secured and two Great legends from Mexico!! to rods with stainless steel wire, and Not just a dive trip...it'sthe a rods dive are wired event to a battery, with Not just a dive trip...it's a dive event voltage and amperage determined For More Informationby the number of coins in each For More Information batch. Next, the power supply is Go To www.legendsofdiving.comengaged, beginning a process of Go To www.legendsofdiving.com *Double Occupancy and Run of thereverse House. electrolysis. After cleaning, *Double Occupancy and Run of the House. If you pay by cash or check you can get an additional each 3% discount coin is withstudied, a $300 photographed, deposit If you pay by cash or check you can get an additional 3% discount with a $300 deposit if booked by February 28. Contact Gwen at 419-306-3923documented, or [email protected]. graded, and certified. if booked by February 28. Contact Gwen at 419-306-3923 or [email protected]. Photo by Carol Tedesco

25 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED LEFT: The Entrance of Cortés into Mexico, artist unknown. mExICO CITy mINT (Library of Congress Prints wreck A Mexico City mint eight reales and Photographs Division rap Washington, Jay I. Kislak coin (inset) from the reign of Philip Collection, D.C./Public III is the denomination and reign— domain) but not the mint—most widely represented on the 1622 Fleet shipwrecks. The shield side of a Mexico City mint coin is the front, and is called ruins; and here, the Appropriately- the obverse. On the first Spanish colonial sized dies were reverse are the lions of mint was established. made for each Léon and the castles of When it was origi- denomination of Castile, quartered by nally founded, the coin: a cross with four flared municipality was extensions each ending known as México ● Eight reales of silver in an orb, surrounded by a Tenustitlán. In 1585, equaled the one-ounce curving Moorish design called a it became officially silver dollar of approximate- tressure, or quatrefoil. known as ciudad ly 27.2 grams—which is less O above M to the left of the de México—Mexico than the troy ounce stan- shield is the Mexico City mintmark. City. The city’s mint dard today. The D below is the mint assayer’s was established in ● Four reales coins, at half initial, in this case Diego de Godoy. 1535, during the mon- an ounce each, are half To the right of the shield is an archy of Johanna the weight and were half Arabic 8, expressing the coin’s and Charles I (reign the value of the eight value. This value can also appear 1516-1556) and pro- reales coin. in the form of traditional Roman duced its first coins in ● At a quarter of an ounce, numerals, or in a manner that 1536. These earliest two reales coins are half reflected the handwritten style of issues expressed the the weight and were half the times. kingdom of Spain’s the value of four reales On either side of the coin, the expansionist ideol- coins. symbols are encircled with a bor- ogy symbolically: ● Lastly, at an eighth of an der of dots and a legend. Hand- Mexico coins pro- ounce, the exceedingly trimmed to achieve the correct duced from 1536 to rare one reale coin is half weight when it was originally circa 1544 display a pillars design with Around 1544, the design was appended Making money the weight and was half the value of the crafted, and later the motto Plus Ultra. The pillars represent to include the waves of Gibraltar beneath Money was valued by weight; it was spent two reales coin, having an eighth of the exposure to the Pillars of Hercules, portal to the world the pillars. Finally, a royal edict issued in by weight; and what is astounding to con- value of the eight reales coin. the elements, beyond Europe, and Plus Ultra 1570 (probably put into practice by 1572), sider is that every coin that came out of have left a is Latin for “more declared a new type—with a crowned every mint in the Americas until the 1700’s Blue Water Ventures chief archaeologist, portion of beyond”. shield obverse—compulsory. was made one at a time by hand. James Sinclair, commented concerning this coin To begin production, blanks were cut the rarity of one reale denomination coins legend vis- from strips of silver. A heated blank, or on shipwrecks of this period, “It was far ible. Obverse: The pre-conservation conglomeration planchet, was then sandwiched between more practical to ship large denomina- PHILIPPVS III that contained seven extremely rare double dies and struck with a hammer. tion coins—the full ‘piece-of-eight’ as they DEI GRATIA one reale Mexico City mint coin speci- Any silver in excess of the requisite weight came to be called. Small denominations 16Z0. Reverse: mens. Because of a chemical reaction was trimmed from the outer edges of would almost always have been personal HISPANIARVM ET INDIARVM REX. between the metal and the salt water, the coin until the weight was correct. This property rather than a merchant consign- The letter “U” is presented as “V” in a residue of silver called silver sulfide resulted in irregularly-shaped coins whose ment or royal revenue.” the classical Latin style. The Mexico formed, blackening the coins, and fusing them together into the shape insignia were frequently off-center. Sinclair then explained why it is that mint did not introduce dates into of the object (in this case probably a The dies themselves were made of Mexico City mint coins are uncom- the legend until the year 1607. pouch) that once held them. This fusing steel with insignia impressed into them by mon on the Santa Margarita wreck site, helped to protect and preserve the small direct engraving or by the sinking (stamp- “Every fleet had a specific purpose and Obverse and reverse of Mexico Mint and fragile one reale coins. Photo cour- ing) of multiple die punches, each punch route, and the Tierra Firme Fleet ships eight reales. Photos by Scott Neirling © tesy of Mel Fishers Treasures, Inc. being a component of the coin’s design. were loaded in Portobello, Panama, with Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society

26 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED The Conquest of Tenochtitlán, artist unknown. (Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, TyPEs Of rarE COINs Jay I. Kislak Collection, D.C./Public domain) wreck Assayer L, Luis Rodríguez, was rap The shield pictured below is the Habsburg Shield, assayer of the Mexico City the arms of King Philip III of Spain, and, with some mint circa 1548-1567. Visible variations, of the other Hapsburg Kings: Philip II, portions of the legend on Philip IV, and Charles II. The symbols that compose this rare 1 reale coin are the shield are the various individual arms of lands CAROLVS (of CAROLVS ET under Spanish rule at the time. So, the shield side of IOHANA REGS) and a portion the coin represents the power of Spain, and when the power changed, the shield changed as well. of the word INDIARVM. Between (Illustration courtesy of Walter Zacharchuk) the pillars, above the partially visible PLVS ULTRA motto, a single dot represents the coin denomination.

The assayer initial L may appear either to the left or the right of the crest. Here a portion of IOHANA REGS (i.e. Charles and Johanna Royals/Monarchs) is visible.

Though the reign of Philip II began in 1556, during the office of Luis Rodríguez the names Charles and Johanna continued to appear on South American treasures—hence, the the east coast of Mexico, and there, Cuba,” he said. Havana was the final 2010, published by SeaStory Press, Key coins into the term of the fol- predominance of coins from Potosi, consigned to New Spain Fleet ships. The port-of-call for all ships before undertak- West, Florida, USA, and may not be lowing assayer O, Bernardo Peru. Coins minted in Mexico City were owner of these seven coins may have ing the return voyage to Spain. In 1622, reproduced in print or electronically, in de Oñate. transported overland to Vera Cruz, on been from Mexico or had dealings with the Tierra Firme Fleet, which had joined whole or in part, without express permis- a business that paid with these Central forces in Portobello with a guard fleet sion of the publisher and author. The shield-type coin is American coins.” under the command of the Marquis Author Carol Tedesco is an interna- introduced during the Dr Eugene Lyon, Blue Water Ventures de Cadereita, was traveling far behind tionally recognized Spanish Colonial office of Bernardo de consulting historian and the foremost schedule. The New Spain flota—with coin expert and historic shipwreck Oñate, here authority in the world on the 1622 Tierra its cargo of Mexico City mint coins— professional who has worked with proj- with his ini- Firme Fleet shipwrecks, provided a reached Havana in advance of the ects in North America, South America, tial “O” to fascinating insight about Mexico City Tierra Firme and Guard Fleet ships. Africa, and the Pacific. A member of the right of the minted coins found mixed into chests With hurricane season and its dangers the Explorers Club, she is a popular shield. Portions of the of mostly Potosi coins on 1622 Tierra upon them, the New Spain flota chose radio guest and speaker through- words GRATIA AND REX Firme Fleet shipwrecks. “The Tierra Firme not to wait. It departed for Spain— out the United States on the sub- are visible on obverse and New Spain fleets had one port-of- unfortunately leaving its valuables ject of the 1622 Fleet shipwrecks. and reverse. call in common, the port of Havana, behind in Havana for the well-armed, Today, she consults for some of but ill-timed, combined Guard Fleet the most prominent historic ship- and Tierra Firme ships to transport. wreck search and recovery compa- Signature of Hernán Cortés on a nies in the world. She likes to relax by document appointing power of SOURCES: hula-hooping on the pier in Key West at attorney to his agents during an Portions of this article are excerpted sunset. Coins investigation into his administration, from the forthcoming book, Pieces of For more information about Keith here are shown larg- 1526. (Kislak 213 Cortes, Hernan Eight: Silver Treasure Coins of the 1622 Webb’s Blue Water Ventures Key er than actual size Power of Attorney 1526) (Library of Shipwrecks Nuestra Senora de Atocha, West and the treasures of the Santa Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Jay I. Kislak Santa Margarita and the Portuguese Margarita shipwreck, visit www.bwvkw. Collection, Washington, D.C./ Carrack São José, by Carol Tedesco com. ■ Public domain)

27 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel news UK operator Divequest offers tailor-made trips for solo divers Tired of paying the single supplement? UK of “adding in extra dives, night dives, and specialist tour operator, Divequest, is now trips to the world-famous Lembeh Strait or offering a selection of trips to Manado in the Bangka archipelago”. Indonesia with solo divers in mind. “These are special trips for solo divers Edited by Scott Bennett The 13-day holidays feature accommo- who would like to travel with like-minded dation at Santika Seaside Resort and div- solo companions,” said Divequest. “You ing with on-site Thalassa Divers of Manado, can meet new, like-minded friends and home to some of the world’s best diving. not have to worry about the hassles of S a NTI ka SE as I d E RE s O r T The diving package includes 20 dives, travelling or sitting in a restaurant alone. In which can be taken across a maximum addition, two of the departures will be for World airlines see blue skies of nine diving days, with the option locally female divers only. www.divequest.co.uk ■ ahead British Airways greenlights deal for UK jet Global airlines are undergoing a surprisingly strong recovery. biofuel plant

According to the International Air Deal will establish first plant in Europe to produce Transport Association (IATA), carriers jet fuel from waste matter. began bouncing back late last year after posting record losses during the Construction of the plant in east global economic crisis. London will commence within The group, which represents 240 two years and is set to produce airline companies worldwide, had pre- fuel from 2014 and create up to dicted in December that 2010 losses 1,200 jobs. Some 500,000 tonnes of would total US$5.6 billion. However, a waste will be used by the UK facility year-end rally in 2009 resultedin the to produce 16 million gallons of fuel group halving their 2010 loss forecast to annually. US$2.8 billion. According to BA, the plant will cut Flight management aids aviation emission cuts Leading the way are Asian and Latin the amount of waste that is sent to American carriers, whose surge in pas- landfill, reducing the Better air traffic control determining how, when and senger traffic has helped offset lagging amount of methane where planes fly could help quickly achieve signi- demand in Europe and the United that is produced. Methane States. is thought to be a more potent ficant emission cuts. Passenger demand should grow greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. An Oxford University study has was improved, landing and 5.6 percent for the year, while cargo It will be another four years before it starts producing fuel, discovered better flight man- take-off’s could be quicker, demand could jump 12 percent and it is unlikely to work at full capacity straight away. The agement may be the quickest stacking would be reduced and according to the IATA. “We are start- waste is fed into a high temperature “gasifier” to produce route to reduce aircraft emmis- planes could fly closer together ing to see some blue skies ahead of BioSynGas. A chemical process is then utilized to convert the sions. These include more direct by taking advantage of prevail- us,” said IATA chief executive, gas into biofuel. Waste products from the process can be flight paths to airports and less ing winds,” Carey said. Giovanni Bisignani. ■ used to power the plant as well as supply electricity to the waiting to land, according In contrast, technologi- national grid. ■ to Dr Carey, aviation expert cal advances, such as better at Oxford’s Smith School of engines or reduced weight, Enterprise and the Environment. tend to take a long time before Better traffic control systems they have an impact. In addi- should also help aircraft reduce tion, investing in new technol- the time spent with their engines ogy is both expensive and risky.” running while still on the tarmac. Major technological innova- In addtion, the inaccuracy of tions are a massive financial risk current control systems means because you could be making planes must be given a wide a plane that no-one’s going to berth to avoid collisions. “If that buy,” he added. ■

28 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED

New Flight-Delay Rule in the US ��

Airlines threaten more flight cancellations ahead of the new ban on extended tarmac waits

A new federal rule that takes prospect of getting stuck in a take- Continental Airlines (CAL) CEO Jeff effect April 29 aims to end such off queue. Smisek told an investor conference horror stories by imposing fines In response to the regulation, furi- on March 9. on carriers as high as US$27,500 ous airline executives are hoping A Transportation Department per passenger for flights that sit air travelers blame the Transpor- spokesman, Bill Mosley, said airlines for more than three hours without tation Department for increased can schedule flights “more realisti- allowing travelers to disembark. flight cancellations. “Many pas- cally” to avoid cancellations, and It should be good news for trave- sengers at two hours and 45 min- that the rules will help travelers lers, but some airline industry ana- utes, they really want to go to L.A. “choose carriers that do not have lyst warn the law of unintended or Mumbai or wherever, but the tarmac delays, do not routinely consequences is about to strike government, by God, says ‘We’re cancel their flights, and will provide air travel, as the seemingly helpful going to fine you $27,500.’ So, adequate assistance to passen- �� mandate prompts airlines to can- guess what we’re going to do? gers.” ■ cel flights that face a reasonable We’re going to cancel the flight,” How old is your plane anyway?

The average age of the fleet of Northwest had the oldest fleets, among the oldest in the world, the seven large U.S. passenger air- at about 16 years on average. As “I’m not really sure that people lines—including American, Alaska, of the end of 2008, a small per- should read that much into that,” Continental, the merged Delta and centage of the merged Delta/ Aboulafia said. “From a safety Northwest, Southwest, United and Northwest’s planes dated back to standpoint, a lot of the older planes US Airways—is about 14 years old, the late 1960’s. were built tougher and with proper �� according to The Airline Monitor. According to aviation analyst maintenance, there’s no reason It found American and Delta/ Richard Aboulafia, U.S. fleets are why a plane can’t stay safe for 25 to 30 years.” The United States and most of the developed world have superb standards and maintenance regulations, the result of decades of experience that have made the system incredibly safe, Aboulafia said. It’s also important to remember that a plane may be 20 years �� old, but its engines and other major systems could have been recently manufactured or upgraded, said �� Todd Curtis, founder of AirSafe. �� com. ■ �� American Airlines Douglas DC-3 used in filming a war film in 1943 N ASA 29 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED SpermText and photos by Eric Cheng Whales Of Dominica 30 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Sperm Whales

The memory of my first sperm whale encounter is so visceral that I can almost feel myself there again if I close my eyes. As is common to most whale encounters, it wasn’t a particularly long one; the juvenile male merely drifted by slowly, effortlessly, turning on his side so he could stare at me with a tiny little eye before disappearing into the blue. To him, I was probably nothing more than a passing curiosity—an awkward sack of meat wrapped in neoprene—but the experience was an overwhelming one for me, and I knew that I wanted more.

The sperm whale is the canonical whale, its form immortalized by books and drawings centuries old. When you ask a child to draw a whale, it is likely that what will come out of her developing mind most likely resembles a sperm whale, an animal with a huge, box-like head and tiny pectoral fins whose evolution seems to defy logical explanation. Given that there seem to be sperm whales distributed all over

THIS PAGE AND PREVIOUS PAGE: Sperm whales are common and have a wide geographic distribution, which means that they can be found in almost every part of the world. Sperm whales often only have teeth on the lower jaw (left) used to hold and eat their prey, giant squid

31 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Sperm Whales

Sperm whales are social animals that form family pods which interact. A group of whales in close formation surface for air (above). Close- encounter with a sperm whale that likes to get close to humans (left)

the world, why is it that they female sperm whales do not are so shrouded in mystery? migrate, making it much less Most whale enthusiasts I know probable that you will have a talk fervently about humpback random encounter with a sperm whales, but grow quiet when whale unless you go to the sperm whales come up. Few places where they live. of them have ever seen a sperm whale, even on the So where do sperm surface. Sperm whales are not whales live? rare. I’m told that sperm whale Sperm whales live where their populations are quite healthy, food lives. I’ve had luck at both and that their geographic of the places I’ve traveled to in distribution is wide, which means search of the mighty cetaceans: that they can be found in Ogasarawa, a group of islands almost every area of the world. 620 miles south/south-west I don’t mean to state the of Tokyo, and Dominica, an obvious, but it turns out that all island in the central Caribbean. you have to do to see a sperm Both island chains sit at the whale is travel to where they intersection of grinding tectonic live. Although mature male plates and have ridgelines sperm whales do migrate from that drop off steeply under polar regions to mating grounds the ocean’s surface. In both in the tropics, juvenile and locations, sperm whales are A mother sperm whale and her baby calf descend 32 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Sperm Whales

Sperm whales are found on the surface of the water down to about 1,000 meters deep where they hunt giant squid. ABOVE: A sperm whale named Scar has enjoyed meeting humans since the day he was born and is thought to have encouraged other whales to tolerate human presence, too

found on the surface along underwater since the day he was born. Andrew Armour, whales, and two local pods happened to topography about 1000 meters deep, where our local guide in Dominica, has spent be aggregating into social groups while we their prey — large and giant squid — live. countless hours in the water with Scar and were there. During social gatherings, the In Ogasawara, I photographed a sperm believes that Scar has been a “gateway whales let us get as close as we wanted whale with an Architeuthis dux giant squid whale” in that others whales in the area to (we were careful of flukes thrashing up carcass in its mouth — a first, I’m told — seem to also tolerate human presence in and down, of course — there was a lot but it was in Dominica that I had the most the water. of surface activity!). Still, we never tried to incredible whale encounters of my life. Scar, Getting into the water with Scar for the touch any of these whales because they a 10-year old male sperm whale, has been first time was a bit intimidating. Although he are fundamentally wild animals, and lack of initiating human encounters almost literally is a young male, he is still about ten meters respect could easily lead to a response that long and comes barreling at snorkelers, might cause injury or death. sometimes not stopping until physical During social gatherings, sperm whales rub contact is made. Indeed, I spent as much against each other and communicate non- time swimming away from Scar as I did stop by clicking, clanging and wheezing trying to photograph him, and in the end, (like dolphins do). I observed that a good I ended up putting my camera down and number of the juvenile males became giving him a good rub. Scar closed his eyes, sexually aroused when rubbing against and his huge body wiggled slightly under my each other. Photography conditions were hands, like a 12-ton puppy might do in the fantastic during the beginning of each same situation. social gathering, but after ten minutes or Our group spent a lot of time in the water so, the water around the cluster of whales with other sperm whales in Dominica as was often filled with micro-bubbles and well. Local researchers and whale watch sloughed-off sperm whale skin, which looks operators have identified dozens of resident like sheets of thin, black plastic. A piece of sloughed-off sperm whale skin floats by 33 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Sperm Whales feature During social gatherings, sperm whales rub against each other and communicate con- tinually by clicking, clanging and wheezing (like dolphins do). As sperm whales are a protected species, in-water whale encounters are illegal without the necessary research permits

I hope to return to Ogasawara have been inundated with regularly book tourists on charters and Dominica next year for more requests for sperm whale snorkel to swim with humpback whales. opportunities to photograph and trips since these images were I highly recommend an in-water film sperm whales. Six months ago, released to the press. For the most experience with a large cetacean, the thought of seeing a sperm part, in-water whale encounters but remember: always follow your whale underwater was just an are illegal without the necessary guide’s instructions, and get in abstract dream. It was only through research permits, and I don’t good swimming shape before you a combination of careful planning know of anywhere in the world go! and incredible luck that I was given where casual hobbyists are See Eric’s Dominica trip report the opportunity to capture the allowed to get into the water with (including video of sperm whales) images presented in this portfolio. sperm whales. However, Tonga here: http://echeng.com/journal/ Tourist operations in Dominica and the Dominican Republic tag/dominica2010/ ■ Underwater photographer and writer, Eric Cheng 34 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Sharks: Close media Hammerhead Encounters nails shark facts This new book is dedicated to sharks and tells the story of the Of all the sharks in the sea, hammerheads authors’ close encounters with have to be the strangest with their unique wide this fascinating species. Compiled point & click snouts. Learn why scientists feel the creatures by Peter Verhoog and Georgina on bold links developed this hammer formation and a myri- Wiersma, the book has 18 exciting ad of facts about the species in “Hammerhead chapters covering personal adven- Sharks” by Alessandro de Maddalena and Alex tures with many species of sharks, “The Sharkman” Buttigieg. The 128-page book from the small sharks of the kelp from Ireco Press is filled with color photos and forests to the great white shark This Media page is brought to you by black and white drawings of hammerheads photographed without a cage. On Book Log compiled by Robert Sterner that the authors have produced over decades Verhoog’s website, you can find of Sterner Editorial Services. Read earlier of studying sharks. De Maddalena is president an exciting video clip of him diving Book Log reviews by genre or call atten- of the Italian Ichthyological Society and a with a very large tiger shark that tion to books and videos to review at member of the Mediterranean Shark Research tries to pull his expensive under- www.sternereditorial.com Group. The book is a compendium of centu- water camera out of this hands. ries of shark research by scientists around the Public interest in the oceans and world. Although the authors present information sharks has grown immensely. Most in scientific terms, they explain everything in publications about sharks, up to Face up laymen language that is easy to read yet high- now, have been biological texts ly informative. The text is bilingual (Italian and Take your kid to and guide books. Sharks: Close to book English.) The foreword was written by Ron and Encounters is one of the first books Valerie Taylor, the Australian shark experts who ‘Scuba School’ to describe personal encounters bargain helped produce classic films with these ancient predators in such as “Jaws” and If your young guppies are becoming inter- a compelling, fast-paced style, The biggest compen- “Blue Water, White ested in scuba diving, consider getting with over 100 full-colour, high- dium of diving facts has Death”. The book “Scuba School”. The 50-page soft cover quality photographs, all taken by become the best deal can be ordered from Hameray is one of a series of books Verhoog. Holland’s famous diving too. Jeffrey Gallant directly from the Elizabeth Cook wrote to draw interest to couple has done it again, “We do has moved his Diving publisher, which is the sport among the younger generation. not write about the experiences of Almanac to Facebook, accessible through Its six chapters introduce readers to the others, but present our own unique the social networking the author’s Web Underwater Zoo of creatures and plants. adventures.” The book is also pub- Web site. More than site. ISBN: 978-88- They then progress through Classroom, lished in Dutch, and available on 3,000 indexed articles, 86253-34-5 Learning About Gear, More Things to the new webshop: www.peterver- 500 records, 600 who’s www.alesandro- Learn, First Open Water Dive and Earning hoogart.com who profiles, 1,200 busi- de-maddalena. the C-Card. The book closes with appen- nesses and centuries of webs.com dices on protecting the planet, fun facts, diving history are avail- a glossary and an index. Cook says the able free of charge. All readers have to do text is aimed at third- through eighth- is click through to the Facebook page and establish a graders, although it seemed more fit- password to gain access to regular updates and the ting to the youngest readers of that age archive of facts and figures. What’s more they can spread. She covers scuba basics, the fun exchange ideas with other readers around the world and the hazards without getting too tech- through the networking site. For those who like the nical or scary. The layout is breezy, lend- feel of paper books, the 2009 almanac can still be ing a fun mood to the contents. Adding ordered on-line as well. This 694-page soft cover from to its sense of excitement are color imag- Porbeagle Press is a handy reference for settling dis- es of underwater photographer Robert cussions at dive club meetings and for quick reads in Yin. ISBN: 978-1-60559-097-4 moments between tasks. It is the definitive toilet-tank www.hameraypublishing.net/ topper for the complete diver. Soft cover underwater~encounters1 ISBN: 978-0-9781078-2-6 www.divingalmanac.com

35 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Mexico’s magical island

Text by Mathias Corvallo CozumelPhotos by Mathias Corvallo, Erick Cruz and Scott Johnson

36 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO PHOTO C COLASSurTEsy Of ImFEIExICOD TOurIsm travel Cozumel Cozumel combines the great reefs that one might find at the best dive spots around the warm Mexican Gulf waters with the laid back island life, where everything is close enough...

CLOCKWISE: Seahorse hides among fronds of soft coral; Octopus changing color for the camera; Tobaccofish hovers over purple coral on the reef off Cozumel

PREVIOUS PAGE: A diver explores the bright orange and gold colored sponges and coral growth of the reefs

sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON off the island of Cozumel

Yes, I know, Cozumel must Cozumel combines the great ing spot in the world, back in the have already been reviewed reefs that one might find at the 60s. Who are we to discredit the old best dive spots around the warm master? several times since you took Mexican Gulf waters with the laid Since the French sanction of up scuba diving, but the fact back island life, where everything Cozumel as a divers’ paradise remains, that it is still one of the is close enough with a short taxi on Earth—and just to make sure Caribbean’s top destinations ride or a pleasurable bicycle tour. it sticks—the Mexican authorities Indeed, the island has few routes, established a huge marine park for diving enthusiasts from all and a great set of beaches and for the preservation of local flora over the world—from the nov- coves. Almost every place offers and fauna as well as the means of ice to the very knowledge- gentle waves lapping warm sands. income, based on sports tourism, able—and now it’s safe again And there is always a beach bar that is the lifeline of the island. or “tienda” around where you can to go there, as Mexico has get great refreshments at very low Palancar Reef been cleared off the CDC’s prices—an “honest-to-God” div- There are many areas for scuba travel warning list for swine flu. ing paradise, but then, you already enthusiasts to choose from, but knew that! a great start is the internationally It’s time once again to enjoy What can we say? Good ol’ renown Palancar Reefs located the treats of this enchanting Jacques Cousteau baptized between the Playa del Carmen tropical paradise. Cozumel as ze most beautiful div- coastline and the western side of sCOTT jOHNsON 37 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED COUNTER-CLOCKWISE: Blue Tang; Lizardfish; travel Gray angelfish (inset) Cozumel the island. This shel- Many well-known brands offer such prod- tered section has ucts, and it is in your best interest to get a the clearest water. few bottles at home, as prices on the island The best spots are a tend to be a trifle steep, and stocks aren’t mere 20-30 minutes always plentiful. Boat rides to the diving ride away, depend- spots on the reef are under a mile away ing on where you from the shore (over one kilometer), so the start from. best choice is to sign up for a day cruise or El Arrecife charter a boat from a local tour agency. Palancar (Palancar Reef), stretching Sea life for many kilome- Cozumel has so much underwater wild ters on the western life that it is hard to mention every one of side of the island, them, so I selected three I liked best—sites is where divers can I think you will want to keep a lookout for find amazing coral and snap a few great shots of to show the formations and a folks back home. The variety of fish and ‘horseshoe’ of coral other wondrous animals, apparently more heads, making for than 250 species to choose from, might not sCOTT jOHNsON some of the world’s be too apparent at first, but the more you Underwater photographer with finest underwater dive, the better it gets! friendly green moray eel scenery with a stun- sCOTT jOHNsON ning 70m (230ft) vis- Sea turtles ibility range. Here’s one marine animal you A haven for underwater photographers, can count on having a “téte- Palancar is populated by many sea turtles a-téte” with. Cozumel is full (as large as they come), groupers, nurse of them, some of which sharks and the elusive “Palancar Catfish” are quite large speci- —a crazy sight, if you can spot it hiding mens, idly searching under the coral. Depths range between for their next an easy 12 meters (40ft) at the north end, meal and called Palancar Gardens, to more than 24 will cruise by meters deep (80 ft), providing pros oppor- you at a lei- tunities for fantastic deep-water diving. surely speed, There are some opportunities for great not mind- cavern diving, such as Devil’s throat at ing much to 42 meters (139 ft) down at the south end what’s going called Punta Sur. See the video of it on on around YouTube.com at: http://www.youtube. them. And that com/watch?v=8ECFvuLBUNA&feature=fvw. is the great thing There are enough brightly colored fish and about these cute anemonae to fulfill any underwater pho- turtles— you really tographer’s dreams. feel like a specta- Palancar Reef is as popular among div- tor of nature’s great ers as it can be, therefore its much-lauded drama when you are coral formations are in constant peril. with them. But fight the Visitors must purchase a wrist band pass urge to piggyback a lift and acknowledge the marine park regu- on one of them. They look lations—one of them being the mandatory sheepish, but have great beaks use of bio-degradable sunscreen lotion. that can snap a coconut to piec-

sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON 38 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Diver investigates a giant sponge formation. RIGHT: Cozumel travel Angelfish

protection program. If you want to witness the miracle of baby sea turtles hatching and dashing off to sea, just contact the Turtle Salvation

Program at the j OHN s ON Cozumel Volunteer Connection office, s COTT located at 602-B (upstairs) Raphael Melgar Avenue and right next cozy under door to the a coral, waiting Naval Base. The on unsuspecting fish to be program’s director, funding scooped in to its larger-than-life Rodrigo Navarro, along is avail- gaping mouth (hence the toad with several committee mem- able. If you are feel- reference) as the next meal. bers and dedicated volunteers, ing grand, you can help, too. It can move very fast when are doing whatever they can Just check out the information attacking, and you rarely see to keep the Turtle Salvation at www.cozumelinsider.com/ it outside its lair. Cozumel has

sCOTT jOHNsON Program going with what little TURTLESEE and make your dona- this unique species as their local tion. attraction, and you’ll be glad

Barracudas Nasty looking, long fairly com- pressed, elongated bodies covered with small, smooth scales led by large mouths with fang-like teeth... Sounds scary? Like sharks, barracudas have

sCOTT jOHNsON a bad, although undeserved, reputation. Rare and unproven Diver swims es, let alone your pinkies. Besides reports of unprovoked attacks through a school the danger of injury to oneself, are known, however, the fish of silversides there is also the risk of injury to are sea scavengers and will (above); the animal. The first rule of the respond to shiny objects. So, Cozumel Catfish, responsible diver is to look only, if you are sporting a bellybut- otherwise known don’t touch—leave the wildlife ton ring, it pays not to dangle as the toadfish (right); alone. and don’t harrass the crit- it in front of these lighting fast Local map ters. beasts. Illustration of Sea turtles have been around the island of forever and consider Palancar Cozumel Catfish Cozumel their own backyard. Hence, Cozumel Catfish (a.k.a. toad-

(far right) they are one of the main pro- fish) are Cozumel’s endemic ma THI as CO r V all O tected species in the area. They catfish and a sight to be seen. have a sanctuary on the south Bearded, freaky-looking, striped you managed to see one. Ask end, where nests are kept under like a yellow bug-eyed zebra, your dive guide to keep a look- surveillance and have their own the catfish favors holing up, safe out—it’s a real treat!

sCOTT jOHNsON 39 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Cozumel CLOCKWISE FROM FAR RIGHT: Spotted goatfish; Black seahorse; Yellow seahorse wraps its tail around purple sponge; Yellow stingray emerg- es from the sand of the sea floor; Yellow seahorse swimming through fronds of soft coral

You can probably book your daily dives at a very convenient location—by the pool, near the snack bar, and so on... sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON

Diving menu day; everybody gets the same meal. nice chats with several of them: Pingo, few colorful stories. There is a little something for all tastes Not that it matters much, as Cozumel William, Sergio, Lobo and the rest of the in Cozumel. As you will probably stay has more than 20 spots to choose from gang. Most of the team are bilingual Specialty bistrô—diving à la carte in either a small inn or a large all- and all of them very, very nice. profressionals, but if you manage some Dining in a smaller, off-the-beaten-path inclusive hotel, you’ll find that there Typically, divers are told what sort of Spanish, they will be happy to tell you a restaurant can bring excellent surprises. are hundreds of dive operations that dive profile each boat will provide, the will be able to take you to all the best main difference being deep versus shal- spots. Unsurprisingly, there is a trade- low, so you can be sure to keep those

off between one type and another, so N2 bubbles under control. These big descriptions of each follow to give you operations are usually associated with an idea of what’s available. a big hotel or resort, and you can probably book your daily dives at a very All you can eat buffet convenient location—by the pool, near Ever been to one of those places where the snack bar, and so on. the host sets up a long table piled with I dived with Dive Palancar, a very pro- goodies up to the roof? Customers pay fessional outfit located within two of the a ‘reasonably cheap’ fixed fee and largest Occidental Hotels on Palancar can then help themselves to as much Beach. Customers can get instructed food as they wish to eat in a single at all levels with PADI, NAUI and SSI. The meal. Depending on the customer, that operation offers guided tours, deep- can get ugly. sea fishing trips, snorkeling outings, and Well, diving can be pretty similar to even private tours. Ask for Radames this in some areas. Like buffet menus, a Solis—he’ll set you up. very big dive operation can offer you a Dive Palancar has been around reasonable price for a couple of scuba for many years, and their crew is very tanks, but there is a catch—you don’t experienced. Dive Palancar’s dive get to choose where you ‘eat’ each masters are a great group, and I had sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON 40 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Cozumel

ErICk Cruz - sCuBa dOgs

Diver submerges in a cenote for a cave dive; Onlookers at Plata Forma cave site; Underwater videographer catches some underwater rays in a cenote

smaller, less —just what you might be looking scuba as well as snorkel- crowded for. Cruz knows the way. ing. Just about any place boat and If you get the opportunity, have can provide marvelous ErICk Cruz - sCuBa dOgs having the a nice cup of coffee with Cruz experiences for all tastes, option to after your dive. He has many sto- levels and wallets. But a The chef is usually the owner choose and chat about how, ries to tell, and knows all about few of these are espe- himself—a professional with great where and when one is going to the diving industry on the island, cially recommended, and experience, who takes you under dive is priceless. And—more often as well as the coast. I’ve dis- I have had the opportu- his wing every step of the way. than not—such dives are worth covered that “decompressing” nity to visit some of them Diving with a smaller operation every penny of the slightly higher over a nice cup of java, makes personally. Most require in Cozumel can be as special. He fees paid. Also, for those “abso- Cozumel’s easy pace seem like it a short boat ride and are or she knows every reef, has been lute” beginners in diving, there is has slowed down time, itself. accessible from your aver- to every spot on the island, and much to be said when you have age hotel, resort and dive can give you a marvelous private a personal guide all to yourself Who’s who? club, as most are located ErICk Cruz - sCuBa dOgs tour. All that know-how usually and get to choose your destina- I am very picky about whom I along the west coast. Colombia (Deep) Colombia (Shallow) comes from working a number of tion. dive with, and I usually never Some dive spots are classified Great coral turrets starting at 15 At only ten meters deep (30ft), years with other dive operations Our prize chef was Erick G repeat a mistake, unless I have in two categories: “shallow” and meters deep (49ft) on a white divers will see a colorful coral before opening up a shop. Cruz, ScubaDogs’ Dive Operation no choice. But I would definitively “deep”. Some of the deeper sandy bottom behind which a garden with abundant marine This professional will go the dis- owner. Cruz took us under with his dive again with both operators, areas will have great walls that bottomless abyss looms. It’s a thrill life—too many species to count. tance to provide a quality experi- wing and conducted our dives Dive Palancar and ScubaDogs. If offer a smaller variety of sea life to hover over it and a superb It’s an excellent spot for the snor- ence that does not necessarily with extremely professional dex- you think you want to give them but much greater thrills, as over photo setting—just be careful not keling and scuba enthusiasts translate into luxury but certainly terity. He is one of the very few a try, here is their contact infor- the edge, you can glimpse a very to drop your underwater camera, alike. This is where I met the (in) great experiences for the cli- DAN instructors on the island, mation: Divepalancar.com and deep drop indeed while circling for there is no chance to go get famous Cozumel Catfish—a weird ent—a special taste of the island’s besides being an accredited ScubaDogs at: erickdivers@hot- towering coral reef formations. it without the use of a deep sub! cross between a zebra, a yellow underwater scenery, especially instructor for PADI and NAUI. There mail.com Brief accounts of the dives I Here, one can find a variety of brimmed sombrero and a cross- when it takes you away from the are not just reefs on the menu, managed to do follows. Rest fish life including large sea turtles, eyed toad. It is as elusive as it is crowds. but you can also find the occa- Some great spots assured, there is much more to be rays and a few nurse sharks that ugly, but you gotta love the little For some divers, being on a sional great “cenote” experience Cozumel has lots of great spots for seen. will occasionally pay a visit. guy!

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CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Blue-striped grunt; Porkfish and grunts school together; Diver sheds torch light on giant sponges on a reef wall; Spotted moray eel (inset); Diver with green sea turtle cruising the reef off Cozumel

sCOTT jOHNsON

groupers, some We reached about nine meters large octopus (fun deep (30ft), and saw scattered to follow and see islets of coral and sponges amid change colors and a flat sandy bottom. Over the shapes!), a lot of lob- reefs, there is always an abun- sters, many kinds of dant marine life, which will morays, some holed- include groupers, sea turtles and up nurse sharks and rays. My buddy was a novice sCOTT jOHNsON wandering sea tur- diver, and she felt very much at Palancar “Horseshoe” tles. Very warm waters, but bring ease. We just followed the cur- Starting at seven meters (25ft), a windbreaker for that speedy rents and relaxed. this spot has beautiful marine ride home afterwards. life, large coral formations, and La Francesa a lot of large Palancar Gardens After a superb surface interval, sponges Reaching a this was our second dive of the before slop- max- day. We had a snack break at ing down to a great deserted area, called the ocean floor. Palancar Beach, We dove around filled with the coral turrets and large through a few caves around 30 meters deep (99ft) and saw a few lonely turtles passing by. Clear waters!

Paso del Cedral (Shallow) imum With a depth range between 9 depth of 24 to 18 meters (30-60ft), this area meters (78ft) we has colorful and various corals explored caves and and sponges. As we went at passageways, with the night, we saw a lot more marine abyss looming close by. It life than during the day: a few was an easy multilevel dive. sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON 42 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED CLOCKWISE: Octopus changing colors as it hides in a nook along the reef; BEwarE Of THE STINgINg Hydra Diver and Queen angelfish in coral MONsTEr frOm THE DEEP encrusted passage; Curious moray eel Cozumel travel under large sponge greets diver Slim Fire Coral cousin is no feeble foe. Punta Dalila current and fire coral area, with This was the first time I’ve ever depths ranging between 9-18 A close relative of the fire seen nurse sharks doing anything meters (30-60ft). coral, this hydroid colony ani- other than sleeping or strolling. A mal is found all over Palancar couple of them actually hunted “It’s all in the wrist!” Reef, and believe me – its sting down a group of fish and ate most Mexican conservation law charges hurts! of the poor things on the spot. a visitation fee of 20 pesos for all Divers should beware of div- I don’t think I will ever see that marine protected areas. Besides ing too closed to the coral again. No one else on the group wearing your wrist band, make (how’s your buoyancy control seemed to have noticed it. Life sure to request and keep your these days?), as these hydroids goes on. proof of payment to ensure your are usually nothing more than Amid plenty of coral and large money will go where it should. a thing black bush, often invis- sponges, we spotted a lot of wan- Due to their intensive use and ible, until you brush past it. The dering angelfish, surgeons, grou- ecological importance and frailty, pain is quite immediate and pers, parrotfish (some big ones) most of the reefs surrounding the shocking, although not serious. and boxfish. This is another strong Cozumel Island, and some lagoons The affected areas can becomes quite itchy (whatever you do, fight the urge to scratch it!) and, depending on each individual’s skin sensibility, will take quite some time for the marks to go away, long after the itching ends. Of course, if you are a dumbbell like me, you will get a kick of sCOTT jOHNsON parading your “war scars” to more novice divers. empty shells that covered the La Francesa has small sand hills Another strong current and fire Prevention is the name of sands and the pier. Surreal! covered with scattered coral and coral spot, Santa Rosa starts at the game, so dash off to your The dive was terrific. We met sponges, where you can fins a 12 meters (40ft) and then slopes local diver outlet and pur- no less than six nurse sharks and a lot of sea turtles, rays and nurse into—you guessed again—the chase that sleek looking dive very large Loggerhead Sea Turtle sharks. The spot is not very ade- abyss. skin you had your eye on – the (Caretta caretta) with the thickest quate for the novice, or inexperi- water in Cozumel is so warm neck I’ve seen in some time. enced divers, as there are strong Palancar Ladrillos that you will need little else. currents and A This was a very large wall, with A smart measure is to check LOT of fire coral really amazing canyons. We with your local physician and (as I can person- stayed at 28 meters (92ft) aver- take along some skin lotion ally testify to my age, where there was not much to treat any unavoidable chagrin). Depths of a current. We didn’t see a lot encounters with this sea mon- between 12-24 of marine life around, other than ster—after all, they are on their meters (40-80ft). a few wondering lobsters and home turf. smaller species (their day off?). The Santa Rosa Wall geological formations, however, Gymnangium longicauda, The area fea- are a spectacle in themselves, Feather Hydroid. 3 1/2 to 12” tures small and the complex navigation tall. Thin, close-spaced indi- coral ridges, requires an experienced guide. vidual branches with whitish caves and— Watch out for the corals’ sharp branchlets. Found worldwide you guessed edges; be sure to wear a nylon in tropical seas. http://www. it—abounding skin or even some light exposure wetwebmedia.com/hydrozo- marine life. suit, despite the very warm waters. ans.htm

sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON 43 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Gaping spotted moray eel Big grouper checks out awestruck diver

Cozumel SPaCE INVadErs travel Lionfish are invading the also prevent lit- operaters to follow suit. reef and creating havoc tering and try to When you go diving, among the local fish popu- use oil drip-free one thing you mustn’t lation. engines on their forget is to apply sun- Lionfish, originally from vessels. These block lotion, lest you’ll the Pacific Ocean, are an operaters deserve catch those strong aggressive species that your patronage. rays while on board usually take charge of the It will be a great and turn into a lobster coral where they settle incentive for cur- by dinner time. But be around. In Cozumel, these rent operators to sure to choose a bio- foreign animals have no maintain healthy degradable, oil-free natural predators, and are environmental brand, as the residue of laying waste to what is easy practices, but will regular makes can very pray for them: the local sCOTT jOHNsON encourage more hazardous to the cor- fishes. al’s pres- By the time we left ervation. Cozumel, our dive operator A few alone captured three dif- extra dol- ferent specimens. There is a lars can rising concern for both the go a long maintenance of the marine way to fauna and the safety of div- keeping ers, unaccustomed with the the reefs hazards involved. healthy. The lionfish’s dorsal spines, sCOTT jOHNsON loaded with venom, are During the fishes, and make sure all your dive normally used as a defense dive gear is securely attached and not mechanism. Although Once you dip those dangling behind you. Needless to not “ordinarily” fatal for fins in that clear-blue say, don’t go swimming through humans, the sting of a lion- sea, you’ll drift right reef caves, avoid stirring sand and fish is extremely painful and down to the bottom, never stand, rest or hold on the can cause everything from avoiding the stron- reef. That is why the use of gloves headaches to vomiting and ger surface currents. and knives is strictly forbidden. even breathing difficulties. If That is when you will you are a scuba diver and sCOTT jOHNsON need to make sure During surface intervals you spot one while diving Large grouper hides under a ledge; Diver and giant sponge (right) to maintain good While you swap through those off Cozumel, be very care- buoyancy control, great photos you and your dive ful, do not try to touch it or the south side, are part of a nation- Dive preparation and avoid contact mates took, try and have a chat capture it. It is a better idea al preserve since 1996. Tourism is —choosing your oper- with corals and other about your performance during to call on the attention of the main engine that keeps the ater marine life. Try and the dive and ways to improve it. your divemaster and have economy of the island afloat, but There are many dive keep an average After all, practice makes perfect. them immediately contact it is also the major threat to its pres- operaters in Cozumel, of five meters (15ft) the marine park authorities, ervation. Receiving around 1,500 and a great deal of distance, and you’ll After the dive so that it can be captured. visitors per a day, Cozumel needs them officially contrib- still be able to see Make sure to thank your dive Here is a NOAA – spon- everyone’s cooperation in order ute to reef conserva- a lot. Touching the guide for enforcing sound pres- sored documentary about to maintain its reefs healthy. Below tion programs by way reef might damage ervation practices. Before you capturing these misguided are a few tips for you to show how of providing thorough it, and, depend- step on dry land, don’t forget to creatures: It describes the responsible a diver you are and orientation lectures ing what you get in contribute to the crew’s tip, which steps taken to study this promote sustainable use of the to their clients and touch with, yourself will always help the cause. While phenomena and guidelines reefs. making sure that they as well. Resist the shopping, refuse to purchase any for the general public on follow the rules. They urge to feed the souvenirs made from coral or other what to do if you spot on.

sCOTT jOHNsON 44 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED LEFT TO RIGHT: Luscious nob of healthy corals and anemone; Gray angelfish plucks coral; travel A Coney grouper sports its spots and stripes Cozumel was not ready to sink she gave me hell about it—like it was island. beneath the waves my fault? It was indeed a tough call In town, beside the fast enough (and to make, as we saw, from above the main church, is an within safety ranges, waves, several nurse sharks swimming Hispanic relic. There of course) to follow by. It would have been a great dive, is also the Museo the guided group. no doubt. But safety comes first, so we de la Isla Cozumel We ended up drift- decided to take a personal guide next (Cozumel’s Island ing away, some ten time around until she could acclimatize Museum), located near meters (30ft) below herself. If you have to do that on site, it the city’s ferry docks. the surface and— can get a tad expensive. It’s a nice tour to do as the currents are It goes without saying that I went div- between meals and stronger at shallow ing by myself most of the time, and I the mandatory knick- depths—we soon would have liked to share those precious knack shopping at were separated so moments with her. Therefore, whatever local tiendas (Cinco far apart that I had your dive certifications are, if you are Soles is a must, if you to call the dive and diving with a friend or significant other, are shopaholically go back up. remember that your buddy should have inclined—just have an What followed you the same skills as you do. If any of you intervention team pre- can well imagine: I are not comfortable with drift diving, try pared). had to call the cir- and fix that beforehand. The museum displays cling boat to pick the island’s range of us up, lost one pre- Topside attractions endangered species, cious dive (that’s a Visit the ruins of Cozumel and make the ancient and modern lot if one considers Indiana Jones in you a happy camper. topographical refer- that we were only Cozumel Island, like the coastal ences (Mayan pilgrim- there a week) and Quintana Roo area, has a few archeo- age, Spanish conquest, logical sites that Pirate’s den and Social will interest those revolutions theatre) as with a weakness well as artifacts that for the ancient are relevant to the world. Visiting tour- island’s culture, namely ists have a choice pre-Colombian and of ruins and sites Spanish colonial and sCOTT jOHNsON sCOTT jOHNsON that are unique nautical pieces (cut- to the island such lasses and cannons structure down. Whatever remained of marine life. Never eat in establishments as La Palma—an available). The terrace has a simple yet the original structure was rebuilt after the that won’t keep endangered or fragile 800-year-old Maya honest restaurant offering a lovely scenic storm. marine life species off their menus. ruin—and Castillo view. Find it at Avenida Rafael Melgar at There are other�� off-island tourist attrac- Real—an inspiring Calle 6 Norte, San Miguel. tions on the Mayan Coast, just off the Currents Ahoy! 1200-year-old ruin El Cedral is widely advertised as being ferry boat. Cozumel diving requires good buoyancy overlooking the the oldest Mayan structure. It still bears a control, as all spots will have moderate Caribbean Sea, few traces of paint and stucco applied Tulum (Tulum.com) to strong currents. Drift diving is a skill El Cedral and San by the original Mayan artisans. However, Tulum is one of Mexico’s most well-known that you definitely want to have before Gervasio. Their there is little archaeological evidence archaeological sites, primarily due to its wetting your fins. Therefore, it is strongly availability and left these days, mainly because the con- location on top of a 12-meter-high cliff advised to either hone your abilities or current restoration quistadors destroyed much of the original facing a spectacular ocean view. It was invest in a short diving specialty course at efforts provide an temple structure. one of a series of Mayan towns, shrines, home before taking off to Mexico. important under- By the turn of the last century, the site and forts established along the coast of I speak from experience. I was there standing of the was uninhabited, suffering from the ele- the Yucatan Peninsula. Although consid- with my girlfriend, and she is somewhat a ancient history ments—the worst event being hurricane ered to be a rather small enclosure when novice, although quite capable. But she and culture of the Wilma in 2005, which tore much of the compared to other archeological sites,

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maTHIas COrVallO maTHIas COrVallO

Queen angelfish portrait (left); Playa Bonita enjoys a turquoise blue surf (above); Dive boat off to sea (inset)

day, the timing is quite beaches alone will make the trip well in the southeastern Meso America precise. worth it. region. Visitors will notice A close look at the buildings can another peculiarity Xel Ha (Xelha.com) show a gradual change in architec- regarding the buildings On the spot where the blue Carib- tural style, starting from the Puuc and in the area: each seems bean waters meet the Yucatan culminating with the so-called Mayan Peninsula’s underground Toltec style, given its similarities with rivers was created a natu- those found in Tula—he ancient capi- ral water park, located tal of the Toltecs—and with other sites sCOTT jOHNsON right outside of Playa in central Mexico, such as Oaxaca Tulum is still the largest fortified area on del Carmen. The park and the Gulf Coast. Chichén Itzá was the Quintana Roo coast. includes all the ameni- a large city and well-populated with The name “Tulum”, in local Maya ties of a family day outing citizens distributed around the area. dialect (there seems to be several vari- with the natural beauty They had relatively easy access to ations), means “wall on the ground”, of a protected habitat for water coming from various caves and, in fact, the area is enclosed by a regional marine life, offer- (Cenotes) of the region. stone wall about three to five meters ing great snorkeling, hik- Located about three hours south of high and several meters thick. Within ing, and exploring of the Cancun, this site went under massive this wall lie some 60 well-preserved two local structures that are gems of Mayan his- “cenotes” tory. The once obsidian-covered walls (freshwa-

(obsidian is a black stone created maTHIas COrVallO ter sink- from lava) gave birth to the City of holes). Gold myth, as well as sealing the fate to be slightly eschewed, as if leaning of many a greedy conqueror, not to a bit to one side. That was also done Chichén Itzá maTHIas COrVallO mention the Mayans themselves. on purpose, as the area was (and (Chichenitza.com) Tulum’s architecture is in fact a won- is) regularly hit by ocean storms and The ancient city of restoration in 1923, but still has enough TOP TO der of engineering. In specific days of hurricanes (well known by their dev- Chichén Itzá was, at uncovered mounds to ensure explora- BOTTOM: the year marking the solstices, each astating effects over the Caribbean its height between tion efforts over the next few decades. Ruins at building will channel the early morning Islands). The idea was to build an aero 800 and 1200 A.D., To date, more than 18 structures Tulum; sunrays through a window or hole on dynamical structure that would hold the political, religious have been excavated and restored, Temple of the wall of a given structure, and that fast and not be blown away—clever and military center although their usage is still a mystery. the Frescos will create a beam of light that will folk, the Mayans. of Yucatán, and a Archeologists today can only hypoth- at Tulum (left) pinpoint agricultural milestones. To this If nothing else, a visit to the nearby veritable seat of power esize from the evidence uncovered. ■

maTHIas COrVallO 46 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED groups are allowed to watch the nighttime emergence process of the hatchings. The Crocodile Conservation fact file Program conducts periodic speci- Mexico RIGHT: Location of men capture and tagging, as Cozumel Island on global map well as morphology measure- BELOW: Location of ment data and sex gathering, Cozumel Island on map of Mexico a census and observation of FAR RIGHT: Diver investigates giant the population conditions main- sponge formations on reef wall tained in the Colombia Lagoon sOurCE: CIa.gOV wOrld faCTBOOk Reserve.

History Cozumel is a well known by coralline lime- Tijuana Ensenada tourist destination. It is an island stone rock and UNITED STATES located in the state of Quintana sandy soils, being Roo, Mexico. It is famed for its today the largest Isla Guadalupe Hermosillo sandy beaches, clear water inhabited island in Guaymas seas and the Palancar Coral Mexico and the Gulf of California Chihuahua Nuevo Reef National Park (established Caribbean’s pre- laredo Gulf of Topolobampo in 1996). Eons ago, Cozumel was mier dive spot. With Torreón Matamoros Mexico season period, from an entirely different place. The c.190 sq mi (490 sq Culiacán Monterrey October to December CUBA island was a sacred area, inhab- km), the island is Mazatlán when the weather is not ited by the Mayan people, long 48km (30 miles) long NORTH San Luis too hot and the chance Potosí Tampico PACIFIC Aguascalientes Progreso Cancún before it was visited by Spanish from north to south León for a late-arrival storm is OCEAN Puerto Tuxpan Querétaro Bahia de Mérida explorer Fernández de Córdoba but only 16km (10 Vallarta unlikely. Guadalajara Campeche (1517) and later by infamous (and miles) wide from east MEXICO Morelia Veracruz Caribbean bloodthirsty) conquistador Hernán to west. On either ISLAS Manzanillo Toluca Sea Ecology The Conser- REVILLAGIGEDO Volcan Pico de Orizaba Coatzacoalcos Cortes (1519), who was respon- side, beaches form Lázaro Cárdenas BELIZE vation Management Oaxaca sible for the subsequent deci- a long, white sandy Acapulco and Environmental mation of the local indigenous coast washed by Salina Education effort— Cruz GUAT. HONDURAS people. Later on, the area was gentle waves and NIC. established by social repopulated and suffered through transparent waters programs, parks, muse- wars with the French and an on its western board, while huge damage from tropical storms, the ter marine life. This included both ums and community even bloodier civil war, until it was waves crash against the eastern latest being in 2005, affecting the the coral reefs, which suffered commitment—helps “discovered” again by French side. economy, public safety, archeo- particularly at the shallower dive preserve Cozumel’s rich explorer Jacques Yves Cousteau. logical site integrity, the marine sites, and the fish that inhabit the eco-heritage to the While it became a favored scuba Climate The average daily air reef and the tourism trade. The reefs. direct benefit of their diving destination, the island was temperature on Cozumel is 80°F island keeps bouncing right back, In short, if you decide to be a population. Founding not extensively developed for (27°C). In July-August, the highs although not without a constant daring spirit and take the gam- and monitoring research sCOTT jOHNsON tourism until the 1960s. Today, it is range from the upper 80s to the upkeep of its natural and cultural ble to travel to Coz during hur- projects about priori- also a popular cruise and tourist low 90s. (32°C). In December resources. ricane season—that’s between tized species and ecosystems are Bird nesting and conservation destination. and January, the daytime tem- The island was struck directly June 1 and late October, early also a priority. activities are also performed in peratures average in the mid-70s. by two category four hurricanes November—it pays to visit this Among the existing programs, order to keep data regarding Geography The island (24°C). Winter months: Cold fronts during the 2005 Atlantic hurri- webpage: www.cozumelinsider. there is the Punta Sur Turtle Camp. reproduction and animal general of Cozumel is found on the may create windy, cloudy and cane season. First to arrive was com/Hurricane. It contains several It includes 8km of beach for condition in the island. Mesoamerican Reef (also cooler weather. Afternoon thun- Hurricane Emily in July. Despite it tips and sound advice for weath- marine turtle nesting with activities A permanent fauna and rep- known as “Sistema Arrecifal derstorms are common, usually being a powerful storm, it was the ering down those storms, just in in the field that mark the nests, tile management program works Mesoamericano” in Spanish)— lasting for an hour. Water temper- slower moving Hurricane Wilma case. follow the process of incubation, side by side with educational pro- the largest reef system of the atures range from 77°-82°F (25°- that caused the most destruction If the goal is to chomp up some liberation of young hatchings, grams distributed among different Americas, extending nearly 28°C) throughout the year. when it hit the island in October. cheap rates, going for potentially and the introspection of every social groups. They concern solid 1000 kilometers and located at More significant—and virtually sizable discounts offered in this brood for the management of waste management, proper use the Easter tip of the Yucatán Environment Hurricane sea- impossible to humanly repair— period, it is much better to pick statistical data. During the nesting of water, different ecosystems on Peninsula. The island was formed son — Cozumel suffered extensive was the damage to the underwa- offerings during the official off- season, student and community the island and their interaction.

47 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED facts Cozumel

in Cozumel, it is no different), but that’s not enough. Be very careful when eating buffet style food (especially at all-inclusive resorts)—make sure you eat the food as soon as it is served on the steam tables. It’s very easy to get food poisoning from these buf- fets because they are not kept at the right temperatures and spoil very quickly. Some places will also mix leftover foods with fresh made foods. Bottled water is an maTHIas COrVallO absolute must, even CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Ruins at Tulum; for brushing your Silhouette of sculpture of divers and corals on teeth. It is also sug- Cozumel; Detail of sculpture; Sunset at Playa Bonita gested that you eat maTHIas COrVallO at restaurants that nowhere the island its Mayan name, also Credit cards Most establish- use bottled water to else in the rely heavily on the richly produc- ments such as restaurants, hotels prepare their food, world. tive feeding grounds of the reef, and rentals will accept most as well as purified The which supports populations of credit cards. Stores will sometimes water used in their waters sur- magnificent frigate birds, brown charge a higher rate for credit ice cubes. Bring rounding pelicans, olive cormorants, and card purchases. your own stomach the island many others. The prehistoric meds just in case. have an iguana—the island’s ancient Traveler’s checks Most tour astound- guardian—and the crocodile are operators, hotels and restaurants Hospitals ing 40- to the state’s largest lizards, and will take traveler’s checks, but Cozumel Medical 50-meter there are a host of amphibians. make sure that your signature is Center, Calle 1 Sur visibility Tree frogs are particularly colorful; exactly the same on each when 52 987 872 94 00 (120-150ft). their bright hues are a warning to signing. Otherwise, you will have a English spoken Cozumel predators. hard time—a legal form of ID will www.centromedi-

also has always be required. maTHIas COrVallO codecozumel.com some of the Currency Mexican Peso (MXN). maTHIas COrVallO biggest and The U.S. dollar is widely accepted ATMs There are a few ATM exchange rates, and that can be Clinica San Miguel most spec- in Cancun and Cozumel, mainly machines available at banks to your advantage. Hotels gen- Calle 6 Norte, tel. 52 987 872 01 03 Biodiversity Crystal-clear tacular sponge formations in the in tourist and hotel areas. downtown, but they will only give erally have the worst exchange water and an incredibly diverse world, such as the Elephant Ear out money in local pesos. rates. For currencies other than Hyperbaric Chamber marine life makes Cozumel’s reefs sponge that can grow as large Shopping When should you USD, exchange rates tend to be Buceo Medico Mexicano an unforgettable underwater as four meters (12ft) across. Other use dollars or pesos? When pur- Exchange Your local bank lower than expected. Cozumel Recompression Center experience. As many as 250 dif- sponges, like the Barrel sponge, chasing inexpensive items (i.e. at branch may be found in Calle 5 Sur; tel. 52 987 2 1430 ferent species of fish can be seen gain considerable size as well. the grocery store), you’ll be bet- Cozumel, probably at the airport, Health Issues Good news: in Cozumel’s waters; one of the On the surface, Cozumel has ter off paying in pesos. Otherwise, in hotels, banks or exchange the CDC Travel Health Warning Websites most spectacular is the Queen a number of unusual features a higher exchange rate may booths. You’ll get the best for Novel H1N1 Flu in Mexico has Tourism Mexico Angelfish, possessing bright blue- and include certain endemic be used to calculate your bill. exchange rates at the banks, been removed as of 19 March www.visitmexico.com and-yellow markings and the dis- species, such as the dwarf rac- Large USD denominations (50 and but it’s not as convenient since 2010. However, as Montezuma tinctive blue “crown” on the top coon (procyon pygmaeus) and 100 dollar bills) may be hard to you need to find one first. The won’t let go of his infamous curse, Tourism Cozumel of the head. You can even catch the Cozumel wren (nasua nel- exchange outside of banks. exchange booths around town everyone knows that you “don’t www.islacozumel.com.mx ■ a glimpse of the Toad fish found soni) Migratory birds, that gave tend to have competitive drink the water in Mexico” (and

48 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Sub Gear

THE FACTs aNd VIEwPOINTs IN THIs sECTION ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF x-ray mag. EQUIPMENT PRESENTED IN THIS SECTION HAVE NOT BEEN TEsTEd BY x-ray MAG STAFF, NOR ARE THE ITEMS warraNTEEd. INfOrmaTION PROVIDED IS CONDENSED frOm maNufaCTurErs’ DESCRIPTIONS. TExTs arE usually EdITEd Shewee fOr lENgTH, ClarITy aNd sTylE. LINks arE aCTIVE aT THE TImE Of PuBlICaTION point & click Go on bold links EquipmentBodylicious Frog plus

Cressi’s new fin has been created for The Shewee Go is a urinating device for active sports- those who are try- women, which may be worn for all adventure sports ing scuba diving pursuits and is also suitable for medical applications. Its for the first time or unique design allows women the comfort and freedom who dive occasion- of urinating on the go with ease. Shewee Go is worn like a ally and want to g-string or thong and is fitted inside tight fitting elasticised perform long kicks shorts for comfort and privacy. Held in position with three and dives without adjustable and flexible straps, the soft rubber Shewee Go any specific train- seals comfortably in place outside the body. ing. The shoe pocket Customdivers.com is positioned under the blade, a system that is now used by Cressi on all its models to Oceanic guarantee a larger and more uniform Definition Veo surface area of Subgear The Oceanic VEO the blade. The re-defines 3.0 continues shoe pocket, Definition wet- Oceanic’s tradi- made from soft suits, making tion of designing elastomers, is them more pro- rugged, feature- extraordinarily tective and bet- rich personal comfortable, ter looking than dive computers making the fin ever. And they that are intuitively easy to put Short Deluxe Harness continue to be one easy to use and on and take The Short Deluxe Harness is a comfortable, of the most techni- reasonably priced. off, even in streamlined harness designed for women or any cal, feature-rich Featuring Oceanic’s the water, a diver who is smaller in stature. Using only eight wetsuits on the exclusive Dual remarkable feet of webbing versus the standard 11, this ver- market, no mat- Algorithm, 2-Nitrox Mix feature, capa- sion of the Deluxe Harness is better suited for divers ter what you Compatibility, Audible ble of helping of shorter or leaner build. Special two-inch, low-pro- compare them Alarms, 3-Button Interface the diver in any file D-rings are smaller in order to give a more pro- to. Definition with settings “Step Back”, situation. portional fit, yet they are still easy to access and use. suits truly define and so much more. All in a cressi.com Swivel points on the shoulder straps ensure a comfort- what a diving strong, lightweight “hockey- able fit, which is especially important for women due suit should be. puck” module for your wrist or to the bust line. diverite.com More info console. oceanicworldwide.com

49 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Waterproof Silicone seals These new silicone seals are deemed to replace the latex seals currently in wide use in drysuits. Not only do they have a superior tear resistance, but the hypoaller- genic medical grade silicone produces no latex Where techies get their gear. Expert knowledgeable staff & service allergy. It is considerably more stretchy than latex, and therefore, easier to don and duff and comfortable to wear. Silicon also has a higher resistance to UV-radiation, ozone and chemicals than latex does. These seals are compatible with most common wrist ring systems and drysuits and are easily replaced. www.waterproof.se

XP10 New all round diving computer designed for divers who appreciate detailed, yet easily accessible information. It is truly a complete MB Sub dive computer for all levels of adventure. It displays The X1-VB allows an incred- all important dive and ible signaling effect with decompression data the full-focused light plus full dive data beam with 17.500 lux. Just turning the front by half a turn gener- Backplate fasteners memory. Nitrox set- ates a really good illumination with a beam of 25 degrees. These stainless steel knurled M8 fasteners provide an tings between 21% The fixed-focus version X1-FF is also an excellent easier fit and allow flush fitting when mounting back- and 50% in 1% backup lamp. This version uses only the extreme plates to twinning bands and may be preferred as increments. Full narrow beam of 3 degrees, which allows signaling an alternative to wing nuts or mushroom fittings. watch functions. in very poor visibility. The X1-FF has a brightness There is no more need to search around for your Basic choice of 21-000 lux. The X1 family is designed with a screw driver with these backplate fasteners. of adjustments modular system with two different battery Available singly at GB£9.50 each, remem- without the containers, one for three AA cells and ber to order two off for use with twinning need of a PC. one for three C cells. All compo- bands. Made from stainless steel.

Adjustable ppO2 nents are interchange- customdivers.com between 1.0 and able. mb-sub. 1.6bar. Data can com be transmitted via infrared interface (IrDA) with Dive-Log software. Available in wrist or 3-gauge console. subgear.com

50 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED 2ndSkin Solar boat anyone? Lighter, more comfortable, warmer and modular, the PlanetSolar, a 31 x 15-metre white catama- shorty is made of Metalite to create a water barrier for ran, has been designed to reach a top your second skin. In addition, the steamer is equipped speed of around 15 knots, equivalent with a back SilverSeal zip and to 27 kilometres per hour, and zipped wrists and ankles to can hold up to 50 passengers. complete the concept. TIZIP Five hundred square metres silverseal. Dry and easy. of black solar panels top Spine pad. Protection and the vessel, with a bright comfort. Neck seal with zip. white cockpit Perfect fit. mares.com sticking up in the centre. EZ Solenoid Built at the Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel in northern Inline Shutoff Germany, its state-of-the-art design also means Brainchild of rebreather diver and instruc- it will be able to slice smoothly through the tor, Gregg Stanton, the EZ Inline Solenoid Shut-off waves even in choppy waters. planetsolar.org gives control to the rebreather diver dealing with ascents and troubleshooting. Located near the manual addition valve, it also allows for easy connection of an off-board oxygen source. Only one hose leaves the oxygen cylinder and plugs into the manifold mounted to the oxygen addition. diverite.com O’Three heat packs

A truly controllable heat source. The HUV’s outstanding feature is the inno- vative combination switch. This compact unit enables the user to be in total control of not just the power supply, but one’s direct feed as well. With today’s techniques, it is not unusual for run times to exceed 120 minutes, Hollis and in the extreme, 500 minutes and more. Combine this with the variation Sidemount between the heat that can be experienced whilst kitting up and waiting Harness around at the surface, to those chilling temperatures endured at The Hollis SMS100 system will be depth, finished off by long hangs shipping by the end of April. just as fatigue is truly taking hold— Hollis calls this a “complete it’s a tall order to say the least sidemount system” because it to produce an under-suit that includes not only a kit for the has the ability to cover all harness, but a kit for the primary bases. During these types of regulator system and deco system exhausting dives, our bodies as well. All the regs, hoses, clips are at the edge, especially and such are included in the kits. during the last third. HUV has The harness is prestrung and ready been specifically designed to to dive out of the bag. Much easier give you the ability to apply for beginners, transitioning divers and, of heat at any time throughout course, the techies to understand. Pricing is still your dive. othree.co.uk pending. www.hollisgear.com

51 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Recore Recycled The Gul Surf Company of Cornwall UK has a new line of surfing-oriented wetsuits that divers may wish to take notice of. The RECORE recycled polyester Bamboo Thermospan Environmental Wetsuit line features an inner D-Synchro liner of fast wicking thermal fibres to The D-Synchro is SeacSubs top-of-the-line regulator keep skin dry and that unites top performance with sturdy reliability. The warm. In an eco- first stage in forged brass allows excellent positioning of the logically friendly hoses. The compact second stage is lightweight to guarantee 3mm non-petrole- efficiency and excellent hydro-dynamics for cold water diving under um-based super 10°C. The first stage is made in forged brass with shiny chrome finish and stretch neo- the second stage is manufactured in ultralight technopolymers. Has two prene, the suit high pressure ports and four low pressure outlets, two of which are inclined is blind stitched PROPULSION at 30°. seacsub.com to create a 100 Materials science at the service percent water of a fin. seal with chest entry and seam- • The blade allows perfect performance/force compromise. free shoulders. • The fl uid dynamic channels Sport Sub G-lock wrist and collect, contain, and channel The SportSub is the culmi- ankle seals reduce water with no dispersion. • The ample shoe off ers the right nation of over 20 years of cold water flush. comfort and support. product refinement. Hailed The suit is finished by its inventor as the world’s with YKK zip with most sophisticated and metal puller and Powertex practical submersible knees for flexibility and durabil- technology for recrea- ity. gul.com tional, commercial, and shallow water industrial operations. Keeping the operator at ambient pressure, the air pocket in the cockpit is regulated so that it never shrinks or expands, keeping Seac. Discover a Wonderful World. buoyancy pre- cisely controlled. With two thrusters and a fly by the wire joystick, the sub-mariner pilot is treated to up to one hour at a maximum depth of 30 feet. www.ivccorp.com

52 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Seac_TECNICO_2010_ENG_Propulsion_60x260.indd 1 22-01-2010 15:41:29 THE FACTs aNd VIEwPOINTs IN THIs sECTION ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF x-ray mag. ITEMS PRESENTED IN THIS SECTION HAS NOT BEEN TEsTEd BY x- ray MAG STAFF, NOR ARE THE ITEMS warraNTEd, INfOrmaTION PROVIDED IS CONDENSED frOm maNufaCTurErs DESCRIPTIONS. TExTs arE usually EdITEd fOr lENgTH, ClarITy aNd sTylE LINks aCTIVE aT THE TImE Of PuBlICaTIONs

point & click on bold links

Recycling Ocean Gems

Edited by Gunild Symes Catherine G S Lim all PHOTOs COurTEsy Of THE MANUFACTURERS OR VENDORS Sea Glass Sea glass has become very popular as a component Jessica Lee in jewelry, chimes, sun catchers and ornaments. The subtle beauty of this necklace belies the creative energies behind its creation. Handcrafted by Oregon artist Jessica Lee, this piece showcas- Tumbled by the ocean waves, sea glass es seven sea glass stones weathered by the forces of nature. They are comes from tossed bottles and jars that encased in sterling silver, and held together by a sterling clasp adorned have found their way to the sea. The sand with semi-precious stones. Adjustable from 16 to 17.5 inches, this neck- and surf softens the edges of the broken lace is exquisitely designed for earth-loving individuals. Price: US$90.00. www.greensceneshop.com glass as it tumbles in the waves creating smooth, frosty pieces of sea glass, or beach glass.

Green, clear, and brown are the most common colors of sea glass, but other colors from pink to red to amber to blue are rare finds, since most of the glass bottles produced since the early 1900’s were of the three common colors. Although it can be found world wide, sea glass is becoming more rare as beach combers around the world have been hunting for sea glass, often for their entire lifetimes. Sea glass has been further reduced by the introduction of plastic bottles and glass recycling, so less glass has found its way to the ocean as trash. But the touch of the sea still leaves gems for us to find. Another way to reduce, reuse, and recycle, sea glass jewelry and decor has become something we can Spirit of the Sea enjoy that’s good for the environment. Imagine wearing this delicately designed SOURCE: SEAGLASSJEWLERYDESIGNS.COM bracelet on your wrist. The light tones give it an airy feel, so it easily complements any Sea Glass Jewelry Designs outfit or beachwear. The single red gem (you Vermont artist, Jennifer Wagner has West Coast Sea Glass won’t believe it’s actually sea glass!) stand been collecting sea glass for six years Genuine sea glass jewelry created by serious sea glass hunters and out amidst the line of seven icy white sea along the beaches of the Californian trained jewelery artists of the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Mary Beth and glass stones fitted in sterling silver. Framed by coast. She creates jewelry from genu- Lindsay. Emerald Green and Aqua Blue Earrings and Pendant (above) real freshwater pearls and glass beads, this 8.5 ine surf-tumbled sea glass, which she have short stacks of aqua and limey green sea glass hanging on ster- inch cuff bracelet comes without any sharp has gathered. The artists also creates ling silver earwires and feature a bright pewter sea star. Pendant on edges. The company gets their sea glass from sun catchers and ornaments. Aqua 16” sterling chain. Price: US$74.00 www.westcoastseaglass.net the East Coast of North America, Bermuda, the Mix Earrings shown above come Key Lime Ring (left) sports a delicious “limey-est” of gems from England’s Caribbean and Puerto Rico. Price: US$295.00. from her Bent Collection. See more North Sea. It is a sea glass hunter’s dream! It’s about 5/8” long and set in www.spiritoftheseaglassjewelry.com styles: Seaglassjewelrydesigns.com .925 sterling silver. Size 6.5. Price: US$142.00 www.westcoastseaglass.net

53 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Sea Glass

Utra Rare Red Orange Pair EndoDay Sea Glass in Sterling Bezel© earrings created by self- HL Sea Beach Glass Jewelry taught wire jewelry maker, Linda Jereb With a simple yet handsome design, this illu- of Florida, feature bright red orange sea Sea Glass & Leather for Him sion sea glass pendant works well for him or glass. One must search hundreds of pairs to Sisters Jennifer Reed and Terri Reed-Boyer’s business of sea glass jewellery her. Professionally drilled and handcrafted find a match of this calibre and of such a originates from their passion for pairing sea-glass jewellery in sterling silver with strong beading wire and stirling silver rare, valuable color in very old antique sea and 14k gold. This they do beautifully, utilising their knowledge gained findings. Also available on leather string or glass from the coast of England. According from a college education in metalsmithing and art. Throughout their lives, sterling silver chain in various lengths. Price: to the artist, it is called End of Day glass, or they hold firm to this passion, integrating this into their family life. The sisters, US$35.00 www.hlseabeachglassjewelry.com slag glass, and comes from a site in Eng- from Pennsylvannia, believe in using sea glass as it has been found on the land where a Victorian-era glass company beaches of Lake Erie, without any alteration or polishing. Above is a rustic tossed scraps over the cliff at the end of the braided tan leather necklace that any man would have no qualms wear- day. These pieces of sea glass are a once ing. The multi-coloured sea glass positioned on sterling silver show off the in a lifetime find for a sea glass enthusiast. cool tones of brown, amber, aqua and clear beach glass. Available in Price: US$400.00 www.bytheseajewelry.com various lengths of 17, 18 and 9 inches. Prices from US$188.00-$192.00. www.relishinc.com

Make a bold statement with this handcrafted leather necklace. Its centre- piece—a piece of brown beach glass backed in sterling silver—raises the wow factor without stealing attention from the wearer. Ending in a sterling Sea Sapphire Collection silver clasp, the necklace comes in lengths from 16 to 20 inches. The brown Gina Cowen designs and creates hand- beach glass will vary in shape, shade and size, so every piece is unique. drilled pieces of sea-glass in pale aqua Price: US$70.00. www.relishinc.com blues make up this necklace crafted by UK artisan Gina Cowen. Spaced with toning frosted glass beads and finished with hand- beaten silver clasps. Cowen has specialised in jewellery from sea-glass because of the beauty in these simple, tide-tossed lumi- nous pebbles of colour. Her earliest pieces were inspired by glass picked up on a small stretch of shingle near Cape Town. she now has glass from around the world. Some she collects, some are sent by friends. Prices For this number, beach glass of green, blue, from GB£300.00. The earrings (right) are brown, sea foam, red and clear colours created with hand-forged and filed, swan- show off your vibrant personality. Looking hoop silver or 18ct gold fittings with single, dynamic enough to leap off your finger, double or triple drops of sea-glass. Prices the beach glass nevertheless will stay from GB£60.00. www.seaglass.co.uk put on the 8mm sterling silver ring. Price: US$210.00. www.relishinc.com

54 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Sea Glass Bouquet This beautiful sea-glass Sea Glass bouquet necklace by Katie Carrin of Berkeley, California, features a rare piece of orange sea glass from the North Sea of England, faceted carnelian gemstones and creamy white freshwater keishi pearls Dreamcatcher hanging from a sterling Artisan Tina Lam of silver necklace. Each Ecstasea in Hong individual gemstone and Kong has been pearl is hand-wrapped collecting seaglass in sterling silver to create for almost ten this unique flower bou- years and started quet centerpiece. making sea glass Price: US$350.00 jewelry two years www.katiecarrin.com ago. Hong Kong is one of the busiest Asian cities blessed Sea Horse with beaches, she said. “Visits to the beach are walk- This darling one of a kind ing meditations for me. Seaglass found on these trips genuine sea glass sea- remind me of nature’s amazing ability to turn humble horse (above) by Svetlana glass shards into prized gems. I saw them as gifts from Rasuleva of Palmeras fea- nature to those who love the sun, sea and beaches, tures teal colored sea glass because these are the elements that crafted them. I wrapped by hand in sterling just add the simplest touches to bring out their best!” silver wire with sterling sil- All Tina’s seaglass components are genuine and ver beads and white topaz personally hand-collected, never etched, tumbled gemstones. Pendant meas- or altered. The collection of these natural briolette ure 8.5cm (3.3 inches) long. shaped pastel seaglass drops spans years, and they Comes with a sterling silver compliment each other beautifully in chain 70cm (27.5 inches) this tranquil pendant with sterling sil- long with sterling sliver clasp, ver dreamcatcher charm. Each drop adorned with white topaz measuries 3/8 - 1/2 inch long, and micro faceted gemstone the sterling silver bail is 3/8 inch. Price: rondelles. Price: US$240.00 US$33.00. www.etsy.com www.etsy.com

The wave bracelet features a beautiful aqua color of sea glass that is slightly curved to fit perfectly snug on your wrist. Tina has complimented Palmeras Sea Glass is inspired by the beauty, colors and golden honey found on the its wavy shape with a series of ham- Svetlana Rasuleva of Palmeras, and nature of the Mediterranean beaches of the Balearic Islands. mered sterling silver waves, giving a an artist and collector of sea and holds a unique history.” Wrapped by hand in sterling sil- unique, dynamic character to this glass living in Mallorca (Balearic One-of-a-kind, the Turkish Delight ver wire, the silver is given a vin- bracelet. The seaglass is drilled on Islands), has been collecting bracelet (above) is inpired by taged effect by being oxidized each end and strung with dark brown and making sea glass jewelry Turkish black coffee, turkish and finally polished. Length of leather straps and sterling silver tog- for almost four years. “All my delight sweets, caramel and the bangle with clasp is approxi- gle clasps. The bracelet is 7.5 inches sea glass is genuine and hand- turquoise gemstones. This beauti- mately 20cm (7.8 inches). The long. The seaglass is 1 3/8 inches long picked by me on the shores of ful bangle features sea glass in bracelet is rigid, having a resist- by 5/8 inch at widest. Price: US$21.00 the Balearic Islands of Spain. black (a very dark olive green), ent structure. Price: US$270.00 www.etsy.com Each piece of sea glass jewelry turquoise, brown, amber honey www.etsy.com

55 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Sea Glass

Beach Wedding Bridal Jewelry This beautiful sea-glass bouquet necklace by Katie Carrin of Berkeley, Califor- nia, features a frosty piece of white sea glass, faceted quartz crystal drop gemstones and creamy white freshwater keishi pearls hanging from a sterling silver necklace. Each individual gemstone and pearl is hand- wrapped in sterling silver to create this wedding bouquet pendant. Price: US$165.00 katiecarrin.com

West Coast Sea Glass Ocean tumbled sea glass hand set in sterling silver jewelry. The artists at West Coast Sea Glass beach comb each piece of naturally tumbled, vintage Sea glass rarity chart from ultra rare to common (top to bottom) by Mary Beth Beuke of West Coast Sea Glass: www.westcoastseaglass.net bottle glass themselves. Then they carefully set them in .925 sterling SEA GLASS RARITY silver in their waterfront, Sea glass comes in all sorts of shapes RARE: pink, aqua, cornflower blue, SOURCE: HLSEABEACHGLASSJEWELRY.COM metalsmith gallery. Seen and sizes as well as colors. Certain cobalt blue, opaque white, citron and here: Cornflower blue, colors of sea glass are more rare to purple amethyst Check out the following sources for antique medicine bottle find than others. Below are ratings of more information about sea glass: glass set in a size 8 ring, sea glass color by rarity as described UNCOMMON: soft green, soft blue, for- US$92.00. Dusty blue in the book, Pure Sea Glass by Richard est green, lime green, golden amber, North American Sea Glass Association sea glass and fresh- Lamotte: amber and jade www.seaglassassociation.org water pearl earrings, $108.00. Rare, six piece EXTREMELY RARE: orange, red, tur- COMMON: kelly green, brown, clear Sea Glass Journal bezel bracelet, $420.00. quoise, yellow, black, teal and gray white www.seaglassjournal.com Westcoastseaglass.net

56 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED marketing

Edited by Nick Bostic Spring into Spring

Text by Nick Bostic sells lights, wreck diver sells reels; be sure to optimize your equipment sales in coop- —A spring workout to get your business in eration with your classes. shape for summer. Distinctive specialties In the Northern Hemisphere, At DEMA 2009, NAUI was in the process of spring has begun. Spring brings launching several distinctive specialties in conjunction with the Roddenberry Dive about many connotations: Team. PADI has a wide variety of distinc- cleaning, getting in shape and tive specialties (www.padiinstructorinfo. vacation. With our SCUBA busi- com/2008/09/distinctive-specialties.html). ness, this is a time to get our Distinctive specialties are an easy class This dive cartoon by Ralph Hagen, created for X-RAY MAG, is available on organic t-shirts at to promote because they are unique to Cafepress.com/xraymag. Email us to get it customized for your shop: [email protected] marketing cleaned up and in you. Even as a Master Instructor, I took shape to maximize all opportuni- Keller Laros’ Manta Ray distinctive spe- imaging products for your visitors takes of four. Try offering family discounts to ties. cialty in Kona, Hawaii, because it was not very little time. Stick to CD’s and DVD’s for encourage the whole family to become something I could get back home. your product, and your raw costs should certified. Four divers instead of one Promote continuing education Every dive destination has something be less than US$2.00 per disk. If your divers enhance your chances of selling equip- Although this should be a very basic con- unique; take the time to develop a had a good time with you, they will want ment, travel or continuing education. cept, I rarely see resorts or dive destina- course around those unique attributes. to take home a memory of the experi- tions promoting continuing education. Typically, once a distinctive specialty is ence. I have personally seen divers line Local offline promotion People are more likely to be approved by a certifica- up to buy an US$80.00 hour video. Be As appealing as online marketing can interested in diving while Continuing education agency, it is relatively sure to include your logos and contact be, traditional offline marketing is still they are actively diving, easy for any instructor information on the disk to promote your incredibly effective. Network with other such as while on a trip. tion also creates more with the outline and quali- business when they share with friends and adventure sports businesses (skateboard- Choose realistic continuing equipment sales fications to become an family. ing, skiing, wind surfing, etc) in your area education experiences like instructor for the course. to cross-promote your activities. Offer Advanced Open Water or a variety of This allows the entire staff of a dive center Promote family programs Discover SCUBA type events in local specialties that can be completed during to become instructors quickly and easily. or discounts newspapers or as fundraisers for chari- a vacation. This not only creates a bet- Divers that have readily available dive table groups. Be active in your local com- ter, more qualified diver, but also builds Value added services buddies are more likely to continue div- munity, both above and below water. a bond between your operation and the If you are in a destination location, pick ing. Families that dive together can be By optimizing our marketing efforts now, diver that will result in long-term referrals. the low-hanging fruit by utilizing value excellent buddy groups, but cost can be we can have an excellent spring season Continuing education also creates added services such as photographs a prohibitive barrier to entry for some. An and increase our revenues while serving more equipment sales. Deep diver spe- and videos. By collecting a stock library all-inclusive Open Water course costing our customers. ■ cialty courses sell computers, night diver of images or video, producing custom US$300 becomes US$1,200 for a family

57 X-RAY MAG : 34 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Winged Wonders of the Canary Islands

StingraysText and photos by Andy Murch

58 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Stingrays

CLOCKWISE: A Marbled torpedo ray threatening to shock; The dramatic walls of Los Gigantes; Roughtail stingrays looking for scraps. A camouflaged; torpedo ray. PREVIOUS PAGE: Common stingray takes flight

Los Gigantes is a small Twenty meters below the Rays started fishing community on the surface, the looming walls congregating of volcanic rock terminate here in 1996, when west side of Tenerife in among boulders the size of the owner of Los the Canary Islands. It is holiday condos. Deeper still, Gigantes Dive named for the enormous the coral encrusted blocks Centre had the cliffs that dominate the give way to a featureless, bright idea of start- lunar landscape of sparkling, ing an organized shoreline to the north of slate gray sand. stingray feed to the village, but the name At first sight, the aquatic attract more divers is equally appropriate for desert appears to be devoid of flaged rays and cryptically col- to the area. The rays responded the gigantic rays that fre- life, but appearances can be ored angel sharks lay dormant, with as much enthusiasm as the deceiving. Under thin veils of waiting for divers to arrive with paying guests, and before long, quent the area. sand, scores of subtly camou- their tasty treats. enough animals had overcome

59 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Stingrays

A diver enjoys a close encounter with a fearless common stingray; Common stingrays playing tag (below)

their natural fear of bubble blowers for the feed to be pitched as a “guaran- teed encounter”. Unlike the ray experience at Stingray City in the Cayman Islands, the feed at Los Gigantes attracts many different species of rays including a few gargantuan roughtail stingrays that probably weigh upwards of 300lbs. The most abundant species in attendance are usually common and round stingrays, both of which can be seen circling the anchor chain as soon as the dive boat arrives. Other regular participants are common eagle rays that soar back and forth scooping up fish scraps as they drift

away from the chum barrel. ods to get at the scraps. or more. Once the rays settle down, the feeder The feed itself is a seemingly haphazard affair. Some of the smaller rays try to work their entire offers a handful of fish to any divers that want The feeder carries a large barrel filled with car- bodies into the bait barrel, while their larger to play one-on-one with the rays, at which point casses that have been donated by local sea- cousins use their bulk in an attempt to separate the encounter fragments into a series of smaller food restaurants. Upon touchdown at 25m, he is the barrel completely from the feeder’s grasp. tussles. immediately mobbed by ill-behaved rays of all The ensuing battle of wits is an entertaining At the end of the dive, any scraps that are left shapes and sizes that employ a variety of meth- spectacle that can last for a good ten minutes in the barrel are unceremoniously dumped in

60 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Stingrays

explode from the seafloor faster than the hapless fish can register, then meld back into the sand again until another meal passes by. Sadly, common angel sharks (Squatina squatina) are now anything but common. Their range once extended along the continental shelves of Europe and North Africa all the way from Norway to Mauritania including the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Although there has never been a a heap on the sand. The rays, which are Sharks large targeted fishery for common angel obviously used to this eventuality, imme- Rays may abound at Los Gigantes, sharks, their sedate, bottom dwelling diately bombard the pile of succulent fish but shark encounters are few and far nature leaves them extremely vulnerable carcasses from all directions until every between. Although there are not many to accidental capture in bottom trawl last morsel has been consumed. reef sharks, the area is home to a healthy fisheries. Except for the healthy popu- Once the feed degenerates into a free- population of common angel sharks lation around the Canaries, common for-all, the visibility generally plummets as that occasionally venture into the fray. angel sharks are now rarely encountered. well. Course grains of sand explode sky- Between orga- ward covering rays, divers and cameras nized feeds, they alike. Consequently, photographers wish- can sometimes ing to capture good shots of the action be found lurking should plan to get the majority of their under the sand images early on in the dive. in the immediate As chaotic as this encounter sounds, vicinity. no one has ever been stung by a ray at Angel sharks Los Gigantes. However, there are also are flattened many marbled torpedo rays that frequent ambush preda- the area, and quite a few people have tors that lay been shocked by dropping onto the sand motionless on directly over an angry, buried torpedo. the substrate Although torpedo rays can emit a painful waiting for small electrical punch, the jolts have no lasting fishes to swim physical effect. If they have the chance close to their they will also warn divers by lifting off the mouths. Once a sand and arching their backs. If you see suitable victim this odd behavior, try to quickly back strays within strik- CLOCKWISE: Volcanic cliffs tower above the stingray feeding site; A gigantic away. ing distance, they two-meter wide roughtail stingray; A (not so) common angel shark 61 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Stingrays

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: An exquisitely patterned spiny butterfly ray; A lucky diver shadows an angel shark; Angel sharks are now commercially extinct in the North Sea; Spiny butterfly ray is well-camouflaged to blend in with the texture of the sandy sea floor

exquisitely patterned pectoral fins is an experience not soon forgotten. Although the demand is great, the dive centre purposely limits the feeds to one per week in order to stop the animals becoming reliant on scraps. Fortunately, the area has a lot more to offer divers. Octos, morays and a myriad of fishes inhabit every nook and cranny, but the rays of Los Gigantes remain the star attraction. ■

In fact, they are considered to be locally extinct in much of the North Sea. Other random elasmobranchs that occasionally stop by include large bull rays and (very rarely) a distantly passing hammerhead or two. Perhaps the most beautiful visitors are the spiny butterfly rays, which take on the appearance of flying Persian carpets when they alight from their sandy hiding places and glide miraculously over the seafloor. Following a graceful butterfly ray as it wafts along slowly undulating its

62 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED shark tales A shark that glows The velvet belly lantern shark emits a blue luminescence from thousands of tiny photophores

Contrary to self-luminescent bony hormones, not nerves—strongly an important hormone for sleep fishes, which harbour a nervous supports the notion that light- regulation, induced a slow, long- control mechanism of their pho- emitting powers have evolved lasting glow in the skin patches Edited by tophore luminescence, the light multiple times in animals. that persisted for several hours, Peter Symes Sharks and rays queue up emission is under hormonal con- The light-emitting cells in some researchers show. This light prob- trol in the cartilaginous E. spinax. sharks aren’t connected to promi- ably serves to camouflage these for a fin-icure and gill floss This clearly highlights the diversity nent nerve cells, and the slow on- velvet belly lantern sharks, Etmop- of fish luminescence and confirms set of their glow hinted that some- terus spinax, counter-illuminating North Queensland hours at a time. almost vertical in most cleaning its multiple independent appari- thing other than nerves were them from below as they de- researchers say they are “The manta rays would cease engagements. At other times, tions during the course of evolu- involved. Exposing patches of skin scend to darker depths of the all movement of their fins while sharks would casually swim over tion. In all animals investigated from lantern sharks to hormones sea, said Julien Claes, co-author amazed by new images in the cleaning stations,” he said. the site and receive attention up to this point, luminescence is and to nerve signaling molecules of the study with Jérôme Mallefet of sharks and manta rays “Their gills were often flared and from cleaners. triggered by nerve cells. Finding confirmed that hormones turn on of the Catholic University of Lou- lining up to be cleaned by mouths open but never wide “Sharks in the ‘vertical posture’ a parallel pathway to biolumines- the sharks’ bluish glow. vain in Belgium. ■ smaller fish on the Great enough to suggest feeding. would typically approach with cence—one that’s controlled by Melatonin, which in humans is Several cleaner fish would then the tide before pointing head Barrier Reef. migrate upwards towards the ani- upward towards the surface upon mal and begin cleaning.” reaching the cleaning station,” James Cook University research- Sharks were also keen for a the researchers wrote. ers set up cameras on the reef clean, holding themselves in a “Pectoral fins pointed down, and captured images of sharks vertical position while the smaller mouth open, gills flared and a and manta rays visiting so-called fish worked, or swimming over rapid paddling of the caudal fin ‘cleaning stations’. cleaning sites to receive atten- were typical behaviours. “The objective of the study was tion. “Depending on the strength to document the occurrence and Kingsford said that shark of the current, each interaction frequency of visits by manta rays posturing was far more elabo- would last anywhere between and sharks to cleaning stations in rate and included becoming five and ten seconds before the the northern Great Barrier Reef and client would move away from the at Osprey Reef in the Coral Sea,” station and the cleaners would one of the researchers, Professor immediately retreat to the reef. Michael Kingsford, said. “The shark clients—in most cas- He said manta rays would show es—would swim back around into up at the cleaning stations the current and repeat the proc- and would hold com- ess until cleaning had ceased.” pletely still while the Kingsford said large numbers smaller fish went of sharks gathered in the clean- to work, ing stations although not all were often for actively engaged in cleaning sev- interactions. eral “During the sessions captured by our cameras more than 1100 sharks were observed at Osprey Reef but no feeding or Remoras cling on chasing was observed in any to a nurse shark of the sightings,” he said. ■

63 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED turtle tales

Edited by Bonnie McKenna Turtle sniffing dogs Text by Bonnie McKenna is to find buried sea turtle nests by rescue dogs that are specially NICOlE MOllETT / SEaTurTlE.Org Photos courtesy of and protect them. Specifically, the trained to find survivors of cata- Nesting Flatback turtle Dr Donna Shaver highly endangered Kemp’s ridley strophic events Shaver started sea turtles. training her Cairn terrier, Ridley, to Australia’s most common sea turtle is under threat from feral pigs Dogs can do amazing things. One Kemp’s ridley turtles usually come find the turtle nests. She began by Pigs are digging up and eating eggs laid by flatback sea turtles that nest on the west coast of Cape of the most unusual amazing fetes onshore in groups called arriba- training Ridley to find treats on the York Peninsula. Authorities are trying to learn more about the feral pig behavior patterns in hope of is to sniff out turtle nests; specifically das (Spanish for arrival). Despite a beach, then she placed the treats being able to better manage their numbers. ■ Kemp’s ridley turtle nests. number of volunteers combing the in evacuated nest in hopes he Chief among the jobs that beaches, many of the turtle nests would begin to associate the nest Donna Shaver, PhD., chief of the are not initially identified. with the treat. He quickly learned thought the nest might be located. National Park Service Division of “The turtles nest between April to find the nests. To familiarize the As soon as I let him loose Ridley Sea Turtle Science at the Padre and July. Somehow they choose dog with the unique smells associ- returned to the spot by the old fish Island National Seashore in Texas, the windiest day to come ashore. ated with the Ridley’s nests, Shaver bones. I took him away again, but This causes took Ridley to numerous nest sites as soon as I released him he ran their shal- and to the area where the eggs back to the spot and this time he low tracks are kept during their incubation. pawed the sand until he uncov- to be blown The nests are often several miles ered an egg,” Shaver said. away. apart on the 70-mile long national More than 100 eggs were found Despite seashore, the heat can be wicked in the nest Ridley located. If the having a and very hard on dogs. Ridley is nest had not been recovered, it large group only called upon when the human is unlikely any of the hatchlings of volun- volunteers have given up their would have survived. Ridley has teers and a search and the wind has abated located a number of “stumpers” number of allowing him to sniff the air and (nests that humans cannot find) staff who catch the scent. since starting his ‘volunteer’ service scan the Two years ago, Shaver called her to the turtle rescue efforts. beach for fiancé to bring Ridley to a site that “I am so please with the success turtle tracks; had been searched for more than of Ridley that I am now training we some- five hours. Within five minutes the another Cairn terrier. Her name is times can- dog zeroed in on an area near a Kayleigh. I hope she will become not find the pile of old fish bones. as valuable a member of our team nests,” said “I was sure the smell of the fish as Ridley in helping us preserve the Shaver. bones was what got his attention, Kemp’s ridley sea turtle,” Shaver Inspired so I took him back to the area I concluded. ■

Ridley watches Dr Shaver remove eggs from the turtle nest Turtle dogs Ridley and Kayleigh help in the rescue of Kemp’s ridley turtle eggs

64 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Loggerhead sea turtle turtle tales Bottom longline fishing in the Gulf of Mexico U.S. Fisheries Service proposes re-opening bottom longline fishing this year despite the decline in loggerhead nesting populations. NOAA will accept 1,152 loggerhead incidental takes and 631 dead loggerheads over the next three years. Environmental groups in Florida successfully halted this fishing technique last year. Florida Baby loggerheads take a wrong turn loggerhead nesting declined more than 40 percent over Hundreds of baby loggerheads were rescued, north the past decade and 2009 was the fourth lowest nesting of Brisbane, Australia, as they headed along a road year on record. ■ instead of into the ocean. A resident said the turtles were confused by a bright light near the beach. Area resident and staff from Australia Zoo helped gather the hatchlings STEPHaNIE KErN / sEaTurTlE.Org / CC MusTaPHa AksIssOu / sEaTurTlE.Org / CCdN and take them to the sea. ■ Baby Loggerhead sea turtle Turtles treated for debilitating disease A number of scientists and veterinarians gathered at the Gumbo More than 600 cold-stunned turtles found in Florida Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Florida to treat green sea Frigid waters in Florida during the first two weeks of January shocked a record number turtles suffering with golf-ball-sized tumors known as fibropapil- of sea turtles into a coma-like state that would have killed them if they were not res- loma. cued. Researchers say the tumors are turning up in alarming numbers Volunteers and employees from Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach on sea turtles all over the world. Researchers are scrambling to worked tirelessly to rescue cold-stunned turtles from drowning. The turtles went into find a cure. Most often the tumors are located all around their shock due to freezing temperatures; since they are cold-blooded they’re not able to eyelids and on their eyeballs compromising their survival in the move once their body temperature reaches a certain point. wild. Allen Foley, a wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation The tumors were first observed in the late 1930s. The disease Commission said, “If populations were at normal levels, sea turtle species would do just does not affect humans, but attaches to loggerhead sea turtles fine with an event like this every thirty or forty years. But today’s populations are a frac- and a variety of marine fish. The prevalence of the tumors in tion of what they were historically.” turtles found in the Intracostal Waterway lagoons leads many to Most of the cold-stunned turtles have been returned to the ocean. While clearly suspect the tumors are caused by runoff from fertilizer and farm harmful, the event may have had a positive outcome. Conservationists hope that the waste. ■ attention this event brought to the public will translate into action to save from extinc- PHOTO COurTEsy Of TurTlEs.Org tion, creatures that have existed since the age of dinosaurs. ■ Green sea turtle with fibropapilloma tumor

Turtle meat price soars Newquay aquarium welcomes Homer the turtle The Turtle Farm in the Cayman Islands Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium in the UK, welcomed a blind turtle has decided to raise the price of green following his rescue in Greece. sea turtle meat. Turtle steaks, stew meat, Homer was rescued by Archelon, the sea turtle protection society manavelin (odds and ends), and bone of Greece, after being discovered. It is believed Homer was hit by will triple in price. a ship’s propeller. Homer is unable to hunt or feed due to the sever- Calicia Burke, marketing manager of ity of his injuries and could not be released back into the wild. the Turtle Farm, said that farmed turtle David Waines, spokesman for Blue reef Aquarium, said that once meat is one of the rarest forms of food he is released from quarantine Homer will be transferred in to our and is found only in the Cayman Islands 250,000 liter ocean display where he will be monitored by aquar- and comes only from the Cayman Turtle ists who will feed and care for him. Waines also noted that Homer’s Farm. The farm raises its own turtles presence in the aquarium will help raise awareness of the impor- thereby avoiding the need to take any tance of sea turtle conservation and rescue work throughout the sea turtles from the wild. Eating turtle world. ■ meat holds a cultural significance to the fIlE PHOTO Caymanian people. ■ Green sea turtle at Caymans sea turtle farm BluErEEfaquarIum.CO.uk Homer the blind sea turtle on his way to his new home 65 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED technical matters Choosing A Technical Instructor Text by Ron Akeson Now, I seek only the top (and often you look for when selecting a technical Photos by Barb Roy hardest) instructor trainers when I require diving instructor? The answer is not as additional training for myself, and I love black and white as you might imagine, As I have grown to be an expe- the challenge. What I have come to because an excellent instructor doesn’t rienced diver, my standard realize is that you can be trained by any have a tattoo on his or her forehead dive center that offers technical instruc- stating “top instructor”. So, let’s take for choosing an instructor to tion, but for the knowledge to truly stick a look at what makes a good instruc- train or mentor under, has also with you and sink in, the instructor must tor and the criteria that you can use to evolved. When I signed up for be good at the craft of teaching. select one. While we will concentrate my first scuba class, it really So, what do you look for when select- on technical diving instructors, most of ing a dive instructor? Even these principles can be applied when didn’t make any difference to more important, selecting any instructor, me who was going to teach it. what do including rec- The excitement of learning to reational breathe underwater was the courses. only thing that mattered. As it turned out, my instructor was a past Executive Director of NAUI and an ex- Navy Seal. It wasn’t until I had some real diving experience to compare my skills to, that I really began to appreciate how well trained I was, and how a good instructor can make

all the difference in the world. PHOTO I llus T ra TION

Prepartion for technical class at Mukilteo, Washington State, USA 66 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Technical Diving Compatibility Arguably the most important char- acteristic has nothing to do with their qualifications; it’s your gut feeling that counts. Plan to meet with your prospective mentor and see how the two of you get along. There’s nothing worse than taking a course from someone you do not like or respect, no matter how qualified or experienced they are. Above all you need to have respect for your instructor, and feel that you have something to learn from them, or continue the search for a different one. This will go a long way in allowing yourself to be receptive to their teachings.

Diving experience Once an instructor is favored, you need to know what diving experience they have. They may talk the talk, but do they walk the walk? Do they do actual dives or are most of their dives with students in a controlled atmosphere? There is something to be said for real-world experience and doing actual technical dives each month. Maybe they send out a newsletter or list upcoming dives on their website. Some of the most important knowledge that your instructor can teach to you is from the things that went wrong or problems that arose on their personal dives. Learning from another’s mistakes is an important part of the teaching process. So, during your selection process ask the prospective instructor, what is the worst thing that has happened to them on a dive, and we have ALL had things go wrong. Similar interests “I look for someone with the same interests that I have,” comments Rob Wilson, a CCR Trimix divers from Marysville, Washington State. “For example, Ron was a no brainer for me. We both share the same interest in wrecks. Come to find out, it’s the

Technical instructor, Ron Akeson It’s a good idea to get used to using twin tanks before you start a technical diving course 67 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Technical instructor with stu- Technical diver and cloud sponge on the dents at Northern Gulf Islands Sunshine Coast of Britsh Columbia (right); in British Columbia, Canada Using Force fins for training (below); Pool feature work and rebreathers (bottom left) Technical Diving work is like a car with no tires, it will go Reputation nowhere real fast. Does the instruc- A solid reputation in the local dive com- tor’s knowledge exceed the course munity can also be a valuable consid- you are about to take. One way is to eration. Being well known for their diving ask them the highest level they can prowess is a strong indicator that they certify to. Another is to purchase the know what they are doing. A ‘word of book beforehand and read it. A good mouth’ recommendation by a previous example might be whether they have student is another way to find out addi- an integral knowledge of decompres- tional opinions of how a course was con- sion science and algorithms, which is ducted. This should not be overlooked extremely important for deep trimix diving. Ask to see their informational database (books, articles, certificates), which might already be on display in their classroom or the dive center. This will help you in deciding if their education and training in technical diving is adequate to answer any questions you might come up with. Continuing education same wrecks, too. I also would look for I personally like to know if the someone who has actually done some instructor is continuing with their dives beyond their training hopefully the own education through additional dives I’m planning to do. courses and/or seminars. “I wouldn’t want a “card collector”. A tech instructor needs to go out and actually do the dives he certify- ing people for. You can always find a “tech” instructor but not many are out doing “tech” dives unless they are doing a class. “For example, we had a Trimix instructor come out on a deep dive with students. The instructor turned out to be a complete disaster. We did have a couple of unforeseen chal- lenges but nothing that could be con- because first hand information might sidered a deal breaker. It is wreck div- give you an idea if the person feels they ing after all. This person had no expe- received adequate instruction and feels rience outside of teaching. I wonder comfortable to continue in that level, or what kind of divers they will produce do they feel they were shortchanged. with this kind of attitude.” Teaching experience Knowledge Dan Dwarter, another CCR Trimix diver Familiarity with the subject matter from Washington also believes experi- should be next. No matter how much ence counts; “What I look for in a techni- dive experience they have, a lim- cal dive instructor is experience. Anyone ited knowledge base of the course can go out and get a certification saying

68 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED feature Technical Diving With this is mind; understandably technical diving isn’t for everyone. The bottom line is whomever you choose must possess the ability to teach in a manner so you, the student, can learn to the best of your ability. Don’t be afraid to travel for the instruction either. Maybe the instructor 50 miles away will make your learning experience worth the journey compared to the instructor across town. If you use the above criterion and utilize common sense for selecting an instructor, you should have a very pleasurable they can teach technical diving, but it experience in the long run! is more important that the instructor is Ron Akeson is an Instructor Trainer, DOING the dives. They have the class- marine biologist and professional pho- room knowledge, and the field knowl- tographer and cinematographer with edge for said style of diving. Basically I over 30 years of industry experience. want to go with someone whom I feel For more information, see his website at: confident diving with at those depths.” www.adventuresdownunder.com ■

LEFT TO RIGHT: Technical diver, Rob Wilson, on a deep dive in Neah Bay, Washington State, USA

Training for cave diving in Mexico

Technical diver inspecting sponge wall off the Sunshine Coast in British Co- lumbia, Canada

Gear set-up at the dock on the Sunsh- ing Coast of Van- couver Island, British Columbia

69 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED

Medieval whalers not at whale tales fault for decline A DNA profile of a 450-year-old whale bone from Labrador’s south coast—a North Atlantic right whale’s humerus—collect- Ancient whale populations ed from the remains of a shipwreck at the historic Red Bay whaling site along the Strait of Edited by Peter Symes Belle Isle on Labrador’s south were probably massive coast shows that Canada’s most endangered species was Research indicates mod- tiful. For example, it was said that some commercial whaling to signs of genetic variation, which 1959 to 1961, while reporting a already suffering from a criti- ern estimates of a “normal” when settlers arrived in the New resume when populations reach is a technique to estimate the catch of just 2,710 to the IWC. The cally small population and a World in the 17th century, they 54 percent of their “historic” levels. size of the population in the past number of whales brought home lack of genetic diversity before population may be way found waters so thick with whales, This is generally assumed to be the since large populations tend to also probably does not equal the Basque whalers began har- off, and that recovery of it was said you could walk across population of the mid-19th cen- accumulate diversity through number killed at sea, says Roman. vesting the giant mammals in the populations of great the bay of Cape Cod on their tury, before the explosive harpoon random DNA mutations and The numbers remain contro- the 16th century. whales is still in its very backs. Such stories have usually was invented. Such a decision breeding, while small populations versial and Palumbi and Romans been dismissed as fantasy, but would be based on old estimates lose it through inbreeding. The analysis us being criticised among The Basques have long been early stages. DNA research that show numbers of population, mostly conduct- results were dramatic. The team other things for resting on a assup- blamed for decimating the When a particular species is said of pre-hunt populations may be ed by people working for the estimated the pre-exploitation tioning that the particular whale right whale population off to be decimated by centuries vastly underestimated. International Whaling Commission population was population under Canada’s coast. But the of hunting, it’s often difficult to Getting the numbers right mat- (IWC). But if this historic benchmark more than 20 More than 1.5 million scrutiny never bred new research by a team of accurately say what a “normal”, ters because it has only been is too low, the whaling moratorium times as great, with others. Critics Canadian and U.S. biologists, fully-recovered population might since 1986 that a ban on whaling must continue. at 240,000. humpbacks may once have point out that the published in the latest issue number. has allowed populations to slowly Globally, they roamed the oceans, rather now-distinct hump- of the journal Conservation Historical records indicate that recover, but already, discussions Genetic findings suggested, more back populations of Genetics indicates that right past whale populations were plen- are underway to potentially allow The IWC believed that before than 1.5 mil- than the 100,000 esti- the North and South whales were rarely killed by the large-scale whaling lion humpbacks mated by the International Atlantic may well Spanish-based whalers and began, the North may once have have once done that oil-rich bowhead whales Atlantic was home roamed the Whaling Commission. just that. It could be were almost exclusively their to about 20,000 oceans, rather that Roman and Pa- targeted species. humpback whales. than the 100,000 estimated by the lumbi have inadvertently estimat- With a current IWC. ed the entire Atlantic humpback The samples revealed a rela- population of about Obviously, if the researcher’s population, or even the global tively low level of genetic 10,000 and rising, this findings hold water their num- population rather than that in just diversity among the whale’s meant that under bers would mean recovery is the the North Atlantic. North Atlantic population both the 54-percent rule, extremely early stages—something Palumbi and Roman are not today and in the past—a result hunting could soon that wouldn’t sit well with pro- alone, however. Charles Scott that makes clear the species’ resume. However, whaling nations keen in resuming Baker, a conservation geneticist at problems in Atlantic Canada genetic research whaling. Unsurprisingly, Palumbi Oregon State University in Newport, began long before the published in 2003 got a hostile reception when he has used DNA analysis to investi- Basques arrived in the region in by Stephen Palumbi presented their findings to the IWC gate minke whales. IWC estimates the early 1500’s, the team has and Joe Roman of in 2004, put their number today near their concluded. Stanford University’s Undermining IWC’s estimates historical levels of around 600,000 Hopkins Marine further has been the discovery of globally. But Baker reckons that as The latest findings appear to Station calls the “cooked” logbooks from nations recently as 300 years ago there point the finger at a post-1400 IWC’s numbers into like the Soviet Union. According to were probably close to 1.5 million of cooling period known as the question. New Scientist, Soviet whaling fleets them. This finding also suggests the Little Ice Age for the restricted The pair had inves- killed 25,000 humpback whales species’ recovery is still at an early numbers of right whales along tigated whales for in the Southern Ocean between stage. ■ Canada’s eastern shores. ■

Dying Struggles of the Spermaceti Whale. Image Date1837 70 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED What is the deal with the What killed 300 barnacles and ‘bad skin’? Barnacles regularly colonize the skin of filter-feeding whales, and they often do right whales? so in huge numbers. One humpback whale, for instance, can host almost 1,000 pounds of barnacles. In the last five years, more than 300 southern right whales have been found dead in the waters off So, how does a barnacle get onto a Argentina’s Patagonian coast, one of the most whale in the first place? Marine biologists speculate that the barnacles important breeding grounds for the species. reproduce during the whales’ breeding season, when the whales mill around in Possible causes being examined been found around the Peninsula warm, shallow waters rather than moving include biotoxins—naturally occur- Valdés, where one third of the global through the open ocean. Each barna- ring poisons that include the venom population of southern right whales cle parent can release anywhere from of some snakes and spiders and the is thought to use the protected bays 10,000 to 20,000 spawn, and they survive “flesh-eating” bacteria, Necrotizing for calving and nursing between the for several weeks in the water. When a fasciitis—disease, environmental fac- months of June and December. whale does swim by, research suggests, tors and lack of prey, particularly the the drifting larvae pick up a chemical tiny krill that make up the bulk of the “Peninsula Valdés is one of the signal that tells them to hop on. southern right’s diet. most important calving and nursing grounds for the species found Location, location, location Another theory put forward has been throughout the southern hemi- Barnacles are picky. They like spots the effect of gulls, which can act like sphere,” Howard Rosenbaum, direc- where the flow of water is consistent, parasites, gouging skin and blubber tor WCS’s ocean giants programme, like the head or the fins. So, instead of from the whales’ backs. and a member of the settling wherever they land, the lar- International Whaling vae use their front antennae to The main evidence that will be Commission’s scien- “walk” around the whale in examined are tests on samples taken tific committee told search of prime real estate. from beached whale calves, which the UK daily, The Once they’re satisfied with have shown “unusually thin” blub- Guardian. their location, the barna- ber, said the United States-based cles litterally dig in. As they Wildlife Conservation Society, which “By working with mature into adults, they described the die-off as “a perplex- the government form tube-shaped cavities in ing and urgent mystery”. of Argentina, their shells that actually draw the Province of in prongs of growing whale “We need to critically examine pos- Chubut, and our skin. The result is firmly rooted sible causes for this increase in calf diverse team of Most of the attachment. mortality, so we can begin to explore experts and special- barnacles are possible solutions,” said Marcela ists, we can increase unique to the The barnacle-whale relationship is gen- Uhart, one of the WCS scientists who our chances of solving brand of whale. erally considered to be obligate com- first discovered the problem. “Finding this mystery, the critical The barnacle mensalism—a type of symbiosis where the cause may require an expansion next step to ensuring a Coronula dia- one species benefits, and the other isn’t of monitoring activities to include the future for this popula- dema lives only affected either way. Still, it’s possible that vast feeding grounds for the species.” tion of southern right on humpback too many barnacles could cause drag, whales.” ■ whale skin, for or invite infection if they penetrate too Part of the concern about the recent example, while deeply into the whale’s flesh. On the die-off is that the dead whales have gray whales other hand, it’s been suggested that for host one called male humpbacks, who fight over females Cryptolepas by ramming and slapping at each other, rhachianecti a sharp barnacle coating may be helpful Southern Right Whale as a set of brass knuckles. ■

M arcelo M ammana off Patagonia 71 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Whales are good for the climate too, they are carbon sinks

A century of whaling may have released more than 100 million tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, U.S. scientists told the recent Ocean Sciences conference in Oregon.

Whales store carbon within their “sequester” the greenhouse gas, tended. According to the team’s huge bodies, and when they are in amounts that were compara- calculations, sperm whales in the killed, much of this carbon can ble to some of the reforestation Southern Ocean may be captur- be released. Dr Andrew Pershing schemes that earn and sell car- ing a net five million metric tons of and his colleagues from the bon credits. carbon from the atmosphere per Gulf of Maine Research Institute year. calculated the annual carbon- He suggested that a similar sys- storing capacity of whales as they tem of carbon credits could be The first analysis of whales’ effect grew. In their initial calculations, applied to whales in order to pro- on greenhouse gases determined the team worked out that 100 tect and rebuild their stocks. that warm-blooded residents years of whaling had released an —with whales as the dominant amount of carbon equivalent to Iron pumps force—might be respiring 25 per- burning 130,000 sq km of temper- Sperm whales in the Southern cent of the carbon fixed in the ate forests, or to driving 128,000 Ocean should also be credited Southern Ocean, she said. Later Humvees continuously for 100 for their role in offsetting climate estimates have revised their share years. Pershing stressed that this change by introducing iron into downward, and the most recent was still a relatively tiny amount the upper layers of the oceans, calculation puts their contribution when compared to the billions said Trish J. Lavery of Flinders at 0.3 percent. That’s not huge of tonnes produced by human University in Adelaide, Australia. compared to global output, but activity every year. But he said it’s still 17 million tons of carbon a that whales played an important Skimpy levels of iron in the year. role in storing and transporting Southern Ocean limit growth of carbon in the marine ecosystem. the floating meadows of plankton Using numbers from studies of there, Lavery said. This limitation feeding and nutrition, Lavery Ocean forests has inspired human experiments and her colleagues calculated Pershing described whales as the in adding iron to trigger a big that each whale brings up about “forests of the ocean”. “Whales, plankton bloom. Sperm whales, ten grams of iron a day from like any animal or plant on the however, feed by diving for squid the depths and then defecates planet, are made out of a lot of in the cold depths of the Southern it at the surface. The beauty of carbon,” he said, “And when you Ocean.This zone normally acts as this sperm whale output is that kill and remove a whale from the deep storage for nutrients, Lavery it takes the form of drifting liquid ocean, that’s removing carbon said. So, anything the whales plumes that can feed life in the from this storage system and pos- bring up effectively introduces upper ocean, Lavery said. She Sperm whales sibly sending it into the atmos- something new to the upper noted that experiments with iron in the Southern phere.” Whereas when whales waters. have struggled with iron fertiliz- die naturally, their bodies sink, so ers that clump and sink before Ocean may be they take that carbon down to The extra iron that whales bring upper-water plankton can eat the bottom of the ocean. “If they up from their deep feeding all of the goodies. Yet, she said, capturing a net five die where it’s deep enough, it will encourages plankton growth. those experiments documented million metric tons be stored out of the atmosphere That growth traps carbon, much measurable carbon trapping with perhaps for hundreds of years.” as human-run iron-enrichment even less iron fertilizer than sperm of carbon from the Simply leaving large groups of experiments in the ocean might, whales contribute. ■

C HEN g atmosphere per year whales to grow, he said, could Lavery and her colleagues con- Er IC

72 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Sperm whales tracked hunting squid in teams for first time

At least that’s what Each time, different whales and floating to the surface sometimes as deep as 1,500 “And to tag more members data-recording tags would take on this specific where they are retrieved by metres—tracking them was of the same group so that we on three sperm role. the scientists. more of a challenge. can track their movements.” whales report, as ■ the animals were “We can see that they’re This method of hunting —by “Our next step will be to tracked swim- actually changing their roles corralling the prey—has image the squid at the same ming and feed- over time … It may be that been found in dol- time as tracking the ing in the Gulf of each individual takes it in phins and hump- whales,” Mate said. California. turns to do the most physi- back whales. ologically demanding task— Unfortunately, According to the deep dive,” said Mate. because Professor Bruce Mate sperm from the Hatfield Marine The study, conducted in whales often Science Center in Oregen, cooperation with Jorge dive deep— It appears that the whales would herd the Urban of the Autonomous the three sperm whales work squid into a giant bait ball, University of Baja California that were C HEN g together during feeding time to corral and one of them would dive Sur, involved tags that tracked

Er IC to the bottom of the ball tracked the whales’ move- dove to Humboldt squid by rotating the more where she would prevent any ments for up to 28 days, 800 meters demanding roles of the hunt. squid for escaping. before detaching themselves deep, and

Humpbacks named “creatures of interest” in case of missing herring Something is holding down the herring population of Alaska’s Twenty-one years have passed since humpbacks are now showing up in sig- researcher is studying whether juvenile Prince William Sound, and marine scientists are homing in on the Exxon Valdez, the supertanker, ran nificant numbers, even in winter. herring spend so much energy fighting aground and leaked nearly 11 million a disease, Icthyophonus, that they don’t some rather large suspects—humpback whales. gallons of crude oil causing one of the When summer resident whales leave, survive the winter when there’s no food. worst man-made disasters in history. In other humpbacks move in. Some sum- the late 1980’s, before the spill, record mer residents are even skipping their Herring play a vital role in the food commercial harvests of herring were annual transoceanic mating and birth- chain. The silvery fish with blue-green landed, but the stocks took a major hit ing trips to Hawaii, Mexico or other warm upper bodies—considered large when from the disaster that happened just waters in favor of icy Alaskan waters. they reach nine inches—are food for when herring were about to lay eggs. eagles and other sea birds, halibut and “It did show that whales were exerting cod, and most important to Many Prince William Sound fishermen predation pressure on Prince William humans, five varieties of Pacific still curse Exxon for the absence of her- Sound herring, which is potentially salm- on. ■ ring, but the population should have imped- ing the recovery,” rebounded by now. One hypothesis put Straley said. forward by Jan Straley, a marine biol- There are, ogy professor at the University of Alaska however, also Southeast, is that humpbacks—tradi- other sus- tionally summer residents in the sound— pects in are taking a big bite out of vast herring the herring schools that form in the deep water of mystery: disease, the sound’s fjords each autumn. Straley ocean changes, contaminants and other researchers have found that and competition from other fish. One

73 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Rich Walker is a full-time instructor with Global GUE’s Technical Dive Underwater Explorers in the United Kingdom, but has worked for nearly 15 years at the University Training Director of Sheffield as a researcher studying how blood Rich flows around the body. His knowledge of physi- Interview by ology and physics gives him a unique edge as a Rosemary E. Lunn diving instructor. X-RAY MAG’s Rosemary E. Lunn Photos by Gareth Lock caught up with Walker to find out more about his Walker experience and expertise. Where did you learn to dive? He’d been given In 1990, I was a medical physicist funding to move designing electronic diagnostic him and his team equipment based at St Barts Hospital up north, and I had in the City of London. One day, I a choice whether walked past a colleague’s office to continue with my and recognised a BCD and a set of PhD or not. I was two regs hanging up. I’ve always had the years into modelling desire to dive right from when I was the Femoral Artery, a small child. The key influence had and with two years been my parents because Mum and work to go, Sheffield seemed the right some dives are forever etched on Dad met through scuba diving. move. your soul? Well, what I remember From a very early age, I can clearly As I was still technically a student, was being astounded by the incred- remember gear lying around the I joined the Sheffield University Sub ible viz coupled with big, big wrecks house and playing with it in the bath. Aqua Club and served time as their and seriously large animals. It was But in the 1970’s, children were not Diving Officer and their Advanced my first experience of Wolf Fish, and encouraged to go diving by BSAC, so Training Officer. It was whilst I was they were everywhere. And then, you it just didn’t happen. at Sheffield that I got introduced to got the usual marine life, but it was Now was my chance to embrace Scottish diving. supersized. When I eventually dived all things rubber, and I asked my col- My first trip was to Lochaline and Norway, it reminded me vividly of div- league how I could start. “Come the Sound of Mull. It’s fair to say that it ing Aberdeen. down to the club on Tuesday night,” blew me away. I couldn’t believe that What type of diver are you? he said, and it went from there. there was all this diving completely Personally, I am a cold water wreck I joined the Polytechnic of North neglected by South Coast divers. The diver, that’s my history, and that is London Sub Aqua Club. life was more prolific, the wrecks were where I learnt to dive. Professionally, I’d always been a swimmer, so to in better shape, easier to get to and I am the Training Director of Global be able to be underwater and breath the Sound of Mull was far more shel- Underwater Explorers UK, a GUE Tech at the same time was just mind blow- tered than the South Coast. For five 2 Instructor, a GUE Tech 1, GUE Rec ing. And when I dived in the sea and years, I pretty much dived Oban and 1, GUE Rec 3, GUE Fundamentals and saw fish and wrecks, I was hooked. I Lochaline solidly with an odd trip to a GUE DVP1 Instructor Evaluator, and trained up to BSAC Advanced Diver Ullapool and Scapa Flow thrown in for I sit on the GUE Council as Director level and became an Open Water good measure. of Technical Training, so I guess you Instructor spending my weekends And then I dived out of Aberdeen. could say I dive a bit. happily exploring the myriad of South One of the women in the dive club Whilst it’s hard to grasp now when Coast wrecks, from Swanage to came from Aberdeen, so we stayed you consider how prolific the internet Plymouth. at her house for a weekend, and we is, and the sheer amount of technical Then my boss dropped a bombshell. hit the East Coast. You know how diving information that is so readily

GUE’s Technical Dive Training Director, Rich Walker 74 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED profile Rich Walker available at the press of a key, It was the gateway that would come together to explore a vast ing finally got to me, and I suc- in 1995, it was a different story. change my diving forever, and and extensive cave system in cumbed to its embrace. My I’d got to the point in my diving I quickly started dabbling in Florida, USA, called the Woodville thought process was that if I where I was doing 50-metre air technical diving. I kept on com- Karst Plain (Karst is another word was going to go cave diving, diving knowing that there was so ing across information about for cave). then Florida seemed the obvious much more out there but not how WKPP and GUE. I soon learnt that The idea was that the Woodville choice, and I might as well train to access it, when the internet Global Underwater Explorers was Karst Plain Project, or WKPP, with a prolific and serious cave magically appeared on my desk established in 1998. Originally, it would explore and map some 450 diver who was much respected at work. was a bunch of divers that had square miles of underwater cave by his peers. systems that run from Tallahassee The ‘serious name’ was the to the Gulf of Mexico. And today, Florida Scubapro and DUI you can access the data so far Rep, David Rhea. I showed collated on this project by log- up in Dave’s course and was ging onto www.projectbaseline. taught how to dive. I was utterly org/wakulla.kml shocked. I honestly thought I Back to the late 90’s—one would go into a cave, swim night, I got a phone call from an about a bit and come back out, ex-girlfriend. There was a space and that would be me, trained. on a Technical Nitrox expedi- It made me take a long cold tion in Poole, and did I want to hard stare at myself and think make up the numbers? I land- about the teaching I was doing ed at Phoenix at the time. You Divers and did I was utterly shocked. see, I’d been a course with teaching IANTD or Kevin Gurr and I honestly thought I would TDI (can’t remem- Phill Short. go into a cave, swim ber which agency) The next year, about a bit and come advanced nitrox I drove south courses on the again, this time back out, and that would weekends. destination be me, trained. I came back Plymouth to do a to the UK and course with Richie stopped doing it Stevenson. Rich had just relo- immediately, because I didn’t cated Deep Blue from Congleton, believe I was good enough. But and it was his first IANTD Trimix I also knew I did want to teach Course down there. GUE. I really liked the quality of I think it’s fair to say that there the curriculum, the teaching style, were a few teething problems the professional attitude of the with his new boat, Loyal Watcher. instructors, and the higher bar That aside, I quickly learnt that that GUE were prepared to set. Helium was good and what big For me, it meant one thing—get in deep wrecks were about. A the water and practice, practice, now a post doctorial research “Fundies” is run over four days couple of seasons of reasonable practice. assistant, i.e. a trained scientist and refines and increases an indi- deep diving with DIR UK followed, A year later, I headed State- specialising in physiology and vidual’s core skillset. It’s a course primarily out of Weymouth, where side once more and did my modelling blood. (Ironically that for any diver, and it doesn’t mat- we tended to dive off Grahame Cave 2 with Dave Rhea and knowledge coupled with the abil- ter what level of training or experi- Knott’s boat, Wey Chieftain 2, started cave diving in Florida ity to research stuff has proved ence the diver has, they will get which was replaced by Wey and France. A few months later, invaluable to my job now). something positive and good Chieftain 3. in September 2004, I was doing Whilst on the weekends, I taught from it. I’d been resisting it for ages, my GUE Instructor Training Course Fundamentals. I’ve taught newly qualified but in 2003, the lure of cave div- in Portofino, Italy. By day, I was The Fundamentals Course or BSAC Ocean Divers through to

75 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED profile Rich Walker

Work had begun to notice that I wasn’t at my desk as much as they wanted, so we came to a mutual agreement to part company. It was the push that I needed, and I now had the perfect opportunity to work professionally as an instructor. It didn’t occur to me once that I’d miss the regular pay packet at the end of every month.

What’s your favourite piece of kit? Best country visited? is about 6–10°C, you tend to get more I am now going to contradict myself Underwater without a doubt its Norway of the slow-moving stuff, such as nudi- because in the main, one of the tools I because we get to see the ships we branchs and anemones. It’s pretty similar need to do my job is my equipment, so sank, as opposed to normally diving the to diving Scotland, but everything is so I don’t get emotionally attached to any ones the Germans attacked. The crys- much bigger there, and there’s always a of it. But then again, I have a double- tal clear visibility is mouth-watering, and chance to see King Crabs or even Orcas. ended piston clip that I use to snap fas- the wrecks themselves are so intact. The ten my light head to my harness. This clip Norwegians have a great ethos when it What motivates you to go diving? has got an exceptionally smooth action, comes to divers and wrecks, “Chisel bits Being able to dive somewhere that no and I know I am being completely irra- off, and we’ll confiscate the boat and one has dived before and see things that tional, and I could use any other dou- its contents.” Consequently everything few people have had the chance to ble-ended piston clip, but I’ve got very is untouched, and it’s like diving some- see. And it’s that “making the connec- attached to this particular one. thing straight out of the Pirates of the tion with the past” thing again—wonder- Caribbean. ing who walked on that deck, or secured Favourite dive site? You get to experience a phenomenal a line around this bollard. Diving takes That’s easy—it’s the Sound of Mull snapshot of history there right in front of me one step closer to a past era. because it’s got everything! It’s a beauti- your eyes, and it makes you think. The When I first started wreck diving, I’d ful location. The logistics for diving are thing with diving is that it really puts you look at it and go, “Oh look, it’s a piece spot on, and you can dive it in almost in touch, not only with the environment, of metal.” Now, I’ve got an understand- any weather because it’s so protected. but with times gone past, too. I have ing of what bit of the boat I am looking PADI Staff Instructors, and they’ve all ered, along with dive planning consider- There are shallow wrecks and deeper often wondered when I wreck dive, who at, so therefore, where I physically am left saying, “Golly, that was useful”, or ations, teamwork and problem resolution. wrecks, and everything is covered in were the people who lived on here? Did on the wreck. And then, I tend to think words to that effect. The emphasis is So, it’s tough and challenging but well superb life. The viz is generally good, and they get off the ship okay, or did they about how the ship came to be where it on delicate, precise position control, so worth it and hugely enjoyable. the people are friendly. It’s a great place go down with it? My parents were born is now and what was going through the bang on buoyancy and exact finning By 2007, I was teaching pretty much for a long weekend or to spend a week in WWII, so wrecks connect me directly sailors minds as the water fatally started is high on the list. And we have fun too, every weekend when I became a Tec diving. I normally stay at Lochaline, and back to my grandparent’s generation sloshing over their boots all those years because divers come away being able 1 Instructor. This presented me with a I always enjoy a pint in the Mishnish on and brings their lives and sacrifice into ago. to fin backwards. What a cool skill! problem because to teach Tec 1 takes Tobs, followed by fish and chips from the sharp and real focus. Other things such as gas sharing, valve five days, and I just couldn’t fit it in with van outside. The other thing about diving Norway is Dream dive buddy? drills, DSMB deployment are also cov- my day job. Something had to give. the prolific marine life. Because the water Someone who can read my mind. A

76 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED profile Rich Walker Dream dive (Ceylon) now becoming more stable portray life beneath the waves. They of a long haul, but if I am lucky enough destination? and benign, Hermes is high on the list capture the essence of diving for me to be decoing in the Red Sea, then it’s This is such a and I’m currently looking into the logistics - everything and every emotion that I a whole new dive and something to be tricky question to of diving her. experience underwater. It’s there on enjoyed and embraced. answer because And it’s not only Norwegian Blues that the page in front of you, how the light there are so pine for the Fjords; I too want to spend dances and shimmers through the sea How would you describe diving to non- many. I guess more time in and around Narvik. I’d and although it sounds slightly mad, you divers? firstly it’s got to love to get the side scan sonar out and can almost see the life moving in his pic- A lot of people focus on the weight- be HMS Hermes. explore the numerous fjords because tures. Just looking at the front cover you less aspect of diving but that’s just a The Navy has a there is so much that hasn’t been dis- can feel the waves lapping as ray cruises Fairground Ride to me. Once you’ve tradition of recovered yet in these amazing temperate away from you. done it, it ceases to be that cool. For using names so waters. (I am sure I mentioned some- me it’s seeing history in the wrecks and the Hermes I’d where that I’m a cold water wreck diver What bugs you most about diving? remembering the people who fought like to dive was at heart). And then there’s Greece and Decompression! There’s no way round it and died on those ships. Or watching the first purpose I’d love to go back and visit friends there and you HAVE to do it. Typical deco for fish in their natural habitat, not served built aircraft car- again. Diving logistics are finally getting me tends to last about an hour, so I pass up on a plate, in an aquarium or on the rier in the World, easier there, thank heavens. the time by writing notes to my buddy, television. You get to see it close up and and launched on reflect on the dive or tidy up my gear. personal. Diving gives you an amazing the 11 September Best dive book ever read? Sometimes I spend it by starting to think opportunity to enter an environment that 1919. Her design It’s got to be “Water Light Time” by David about the next dive and the logistics man has not yet evolved to explore in a was “cruiser” Doubilet. This book instantly transports involved, ie what gas filling I need to do. natural way, so that makes it a very privi- influenced and me because the rich images superbly If it’s the English Channel, then it’s a bit leged visit. ■ her role was intended to be of a similar scouting nature. Her design wasn’t that suc- cessful however because amongst other things, she had limited high- speed endur- ance and stability problems caused by the large starboard island. They solved this dive buddy who intuitively knows what by carefully dis- picture to take, which way to swim, or tributing the fuel to balance the ship but when to turn the dive. It’s a very rare it wasn’t ideal, and as a result Hermes thing, but during your diving career, you was deemed unsuitable for operations in will come across that odd one, or per- European Waters. She sailed south and haps, two people that are so in tune with was employed in trade protection in the you underwater. Together, you become South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. On a more complete diver. I am incredibly the 9th April 1942 she was heading away fortunate because I sometimes dive with from Trincomali to the Maldives when she Brian Allen out of Plymouth who ticks was attacked by the Japanese carriers all those boxes, and we are perfectly Akagai, Hiryu and Soryu. She sunk in the matched underwater. Indian Ocean off Batticoloa, Ceylon in 50 metres. With conditions in Sri Lanka

77 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED photo & video

Edited by Peter Symes & Scott Bennett The virtues remain the same Insights into digital underwater photography Text and photos by Lawson Wood

Underwater photography has our underwater photographs in curiosity, the digital camera, is very much as Photoshop, then we open up another to grasp first, and they are all generally been around well over 150 years waterproof boxes of some pro- a part of almost everyone’s day to day huge sack full of abbreviations and weird to do with light. When we were still using lives, whether it actually be a camera or and wonderful tools to help or confuse film for our underwater photography, the and has accompanied humans prietary manufacture, but now as part of a sophisticated “must have” the budding or professional photogra- light from either the ambient surroundings as they have ventured beneath the technology has surpassed mobile telephone. pher. or from the intensity of artificial light by the seas to chronicle the water all expectations with the digital The quality of the digital camera’s Firstly, let us assume that we have all flash, the light had to penetrate at least wilderness in all its glory, with the age, as this rapidly evolving for- reproduction has raised the bar so high taken the digital leap and either own a four layers of emulsion on the film strip today that even those old dedicated digital camera of some type of manu- to be able to reproduce an accurate earliest underwater photographs mat has finally removed the fear film users who once said that they would facture, or are considering buying one image. Now with digital photography, being taken on large plate cam- of failure, which virtually applied never make the switch over to digital, for oneself or a loved one. I once went it is as if we are taking the photograph eras in underwater housings of to all photographs produced his- now extol the virtues of the latest cam- to great lengths to write a synopsis on the through a plain sheet of clear glass; we some sort or another. In fact, vir- torically. eras, housings and, of course, scanners, digital format versus the film format. Now no longer need the high strength of pow- printers and digital editing software. the technology has advanced so far and erful flashlight, and what we miss, we can tually every photograph taken If you look back on historic innova- Our vocabulary has changed to so fast, that one can hardly find anyone generally ‘fix’ (to a certain extent) on our since then had to use Silver tions, then the introduction of the digital include pixels, bytes, ram, gig, jpeg, tiff, who will process film anymore. We are computer. Halide crystals in recording the camera has been sensational. Now we raw, nef and many more abbreviations today well and truly into the digital age. However, there is still no substitute for no longer need to wait years for the too mind-boggling to start with. Once Film is gone—for now—so let us explore a good underwater photograph. A bad image. Now in the 21st century, technology to improve. In many cases, you couple your new digital camera with the why and the wherefores of digital photograph, whether it be too ‘messy’, things really haven’t changed we are witnessing improvements being your computer and add photograph underwater photography. too underexposed or too over-exposed that much; we still have to take made almost monthly. What was once a manipulation programme software such There are several points that we have is still not a good photograph, no matter

The way we were—working a subject in film and then trying to choose the best shot 78 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Subject: Yellowline Arrowcrab (Stenorhinchus photo & seticornis), Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands. video 105mm lens, ISO 100, Twin silver Sea & Sea YS110 flash, 1/125th second at F11

what you do to improve it. Always by a quick fix on Photoshop. remember that old computer say- Is this laziness? Have we ing “garbage in – garbage out”. stopped becoming artists? Do we We know that as you go under- now shoot for quantity and not water, light refracts and changes for quality and allow the ‘multiple colour with the density of the choice’ style of photography to water. You lose the colour red in get acceptable results without less than two metres, and that any skill attached? And, have we colour gradually loses intensity foregone the laboratory for the until all we get are the blues (liter- computer? ally!) To compensate for this loss Well, the answer is probably of light and colour, we either add yes to all of the above. Taking a flash to illuminate the subject; a a camera underwater with only filter to alter the colour spectrum 36 frames of film available to being ‘seen’ by the camera; or photograph those interesting lit-

tle critters, fish behaviour or even the subject without it being overly shipwrecks, you really had to con- intrusive, life threatening or selfish to centrate; you had to learn your the expense of others. craft through trial and error, and you I have foregone the laboratory had to work hard to get the results for the computer, and whilst I rarely required for reproduction in what- use my computer software to digit- ever format you wanted, whether ally manipulate my photographs, cinema of dreams it be for personal use, audio-visual I will invariably improve or ‘tweak’ production or magazine and book a little bit here and there, particu- work. It was in the film era that we larly on the enhancement of colour all learned composition. Today, with saturation and sharpness, as well as large capacity memory cards, I can the removal of particularly unsightly take several hundred photographs back-scatter or aberrant pixel prob- before I need to change memory lems created by the camera’s sen- cards, recharge cameras and flash, sor ‘forgetting’ sensor information or run out of air! that has to be ‘filled in’ later. I admit to being lazy, although I The photograph (left) clearly still feel that I have an artistic eye, needs some additional improve- having learnt my trade over 30 ment on the light, colour saturation years of underwater photography. I and contrast. Due to the excellent do fall foul of ‘multiple choice’ pho- content of the photograph with an tography and may now take three upward angle of an Arrow Crab or four times more photographs of and a strong baseline, I also decid- www.seacam.com the same subject, but now I can ed to remove the back-scatter at afford the time to vary the angle, the same time. The image (above) is distance, light quality and many the completed stage, showing all of other variables to allow me to ‘work’ the changes rendered in Photoshop.

79 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED photo & video

Film on a lightbox, images for further display work, magazine or book submissions

Then again, I love to see back- before, then ‘you are a traveler’. in that time, try and grab a little scatter in photographs as I feel it Well, in underwater photogra- vignette of the myriad of colourful gives a better rendition of the dive phy, we are travelers in the tourist fishes and invertebrates tha put vir- where the photograph was taken, domain. tually every land species to shame and I get weary of the super-clear Yes, we visit all of the traditional in colour, diversity, shape and style of photography that many ‘hot-spots’, but each time we behaviour. Oh yes, nearly forgot— magazines print nowadays. enter the water, something magi- and stay alive at the same time! Sadly, the computer has also cal, different and completely per- So, let’s try to stay sensible, at reduced our ability to express our- sonal occurs. We are all travelers in least for the time being, and look at selves after a dive, as I have been another world, one rarely seen or what is on offer and why we should witness to many après dive scenes even imagined—our underwater be traveling down the digital high- with an entire live-aboard boat- world. way, albeit a rather watery one at load of photographers in front of Here, we have the advantage that. lap-top computers, downloading, over our terrestrial counterparts. Remember that you are entering sorting and manipulating photo- Here, we can fly, float, hover, duck into an alien environment, which graphs with no-body speaking to and dive and approach virtually is extremely corrosive and that will each other about how wondrous any subject matter from any angle. exert great pressure on you and the dive was. It would appear that We are not constrained by sharp your equipment. You are also work- the sole intention of the trip was to angles and straight lines (except on ing under pressure both literally get as many photographs as pos- shipwrecks), and we do not need and mentally. You are moving, the sible and damn to everyone and to line up the horizon to keep the subject is moving; the element you everything else! photograph straight on the horizon- are in is moving. You are usually in Now that I have got that out of tal plane. It is in this element that low light with the equivalent of slow my snorkel, I am reassured by the underwater photography comes speed (digital) film, and you are many good practices adopted by into its own, and it is here that we limited with time and depth. underwater photographers such as will discuss how we can best opti- Virtually every photograph will be great buoyancy techniques, empa- mize our time, our equipment, our a “one-off”, never to be repeated thy with the subject matter, not ever-learning curve and our love of again, even with the exact informa- stressing the creatures by taking too the oceans and all of its marine life. tion to try and make it possible. You many photographs—particularly How dare land photographers may also be at the whim and beck of light sensitive creatures such as cast aspersions on our genre? We and call of a dive guide or critter- squid and octopus. do not have the luxury of the time spotter who will inevitably leave to set up our camp chair, erect a you tired and confused. There may Tourist and traveler hide, unfold our umbrella and get be issues with battery recharging, One of the earliest travel writers our packed lunch ready and cof- voltage surges and general misbe- once said that if you visit some- fee pot on the boil. At best, we haviour by the actual critters you where that someone else has been have perhaps 45 minutes to one are trying to photograph—who said before ‘you are a tourist’, if you hour to find the subject, compose that this would be easy? go where no one has ever been the shot, take the picture, and The photographs used to illus-

Sometimes it all comes together! Whaleshark in the Seychelles 80 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Self Portrait with Nassau Grouper photo & in the Cayman Islands. 10mm lens, video ISO 100, twin Sea & Sea YS110 flash, 1/125th second at F8

his career and has authored and co-authored over 45 books, mainly on our underwater world. Lawson is a founding member of the Marine Conservation Society; founder of the first Marine Reserve at St. Abbs in Scotland and made photographic history by becoming the first person to be a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and Fellow of the British Insti- tute of Professional Photographers solely for underwater photography.

trate the various sections of their photographs scanned. brain with. However, no mat- ling the myths; explaining the the book, Underwater Digital I am only dealing with under- ter what anyone tells you, YOU jargon and explain some hints, Photography, were taken from water photography in the forth- ONLY LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE, tips and tricks of the profes- my vast stock of digital photo- coming issues. You will also note SO GET IN THERE AND DO IT! sionals in a series of articles for graphs and film photographs a distinct lack of diagrams and X-RAY MAG. that have been scanned digit- drawings to illustrate photo- Above all else, HAVE FUN! ■ Lawson was raised in the ally. I felt that the inclusion of graphic techniques. I AM NOT Scottish east coast fishing the photographs helped to illus- A TECHNICAL UNDERWATER With over 35 years of experi- town of Eyemouth and spent trate various points to the best PHOTOGRAPHER. If you want ence in underwater photog- his youth exploring the rock of their advantage. No matter this, then read elsewhere! There raphy, Lawson Wood will look pools and shallow seas before what a photographer tells you, are any number of highly illus- at photographic techniques; learning to Scuba Dive at the we have all embraced the dig- trative books on photography storage of photographs; picture tender age of 11. Now over 44 ital age, and even those die to give you all of the technical format; photoshop quick fixes; years later, Lawson has been hard film photographers have data that you need to fill your protecting copyright; dispel- fortunate to make his passion

81 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED YS-01 Mangrove MVD-FX7 (SONY HDR-FX7 / HVR-V1) The YS-01 is a new compact-type slave The MVD-FX7 video housing´s front case is constructed from marine grade photo & strobe that can be used for all applications aluminum, machined, anodized and protected with a special coating from wide-angle to macro photography. and the rear case is machined from solid Delrin. The camera mounts on video You can switch between DS-TTL (Digital a specially engineered stay. The housing’s sleek, ergonomic design feels Slave TTL) and a ten-level manual control like a natural extension of your hands and makes capturing that perfect function, to enable fine adjustment of video sequence fluid and easy. The housing also adapts to your future Sony the light level according to the photog- video cameras. Redundant double O-ring rapher’s intentions. You can also set up seal system on the control unit provides a lighting system that uses two strobes in maximum protection and does not DS-TTL mode. Power comes from four AA depend on clamping pressure for batteries for a powerful and long-lasting security. It is depth-rated to 200m/660 strobe. You can enjoy taking pictures feet, making it the deepest-operating all day long without having to recharge video housing on the market. the batteries. The recycle time takes aditech-uw.com about two seconds with nickel-metal hydride batteries (2700 mAh) for stress-free continuous shooting. The YS-01 is furnished with a high-luminance white LED target light (1W) indicating the optical axis of the strobe attached to its front face that is effective for night diving. www.seaandsea.com

Werner light Werner Light Power’s new RingLED introduces perfect shadow-free illumination for underwater pho- 3D tography. Its design is compatible Professional alu- with all video and camera under- mimium hous- water housings with a port diam- ing with the eter of 125 mm (with ring road 36W) utmost high- and 100 mm (with ring road 54W). tech specially Photographers can choose between designed for the Werner RingLED 36W and the the Fuji FinePix brand new, more powerful Werner Real 3D W1, RingLED 54W with 3 LED rings. If using the world’s first DSLR underwater housings, it is recom- three dimension- mended that one attach the ring road al (3D) digital imag- Aquatica announces no change required for Canon 1Ds MK IV at the front port. With smaller consumer ing system, allowing users to cameras it should be connected enjoy 3D images without using spe- Nowadays, it seems that every time that cameras to the tripod mounting and the cial 3D glasses. With the full function buttons are upgraded, the required housing needs an flash hot shoe. Weighing in at and control for the camera, now photogra- upgrade along with it. Canon users will be delighted to learn that the new flagship Canon 1Ds MK IV is a mere 480 grams, its com- phers can take 3D photos and movies under- pact design is ideal for travel. a perfect fit for Aquatica’s current housing for the water with the 10Bar housing. Acclaimed for Canon 1DS MKIII. No modifications are required www.werner-led.de superb resolution and definition, Fujinon lens- and no function or access buttons are sacri- es are the choice of professional camera- ficed when using the newer Canon body. men and a key component of many pro- Access to the video mode of the Mk fessional imaging devices. For the FinePix IV model is not a problem as easy REAL 3D W1, Fujifilm has developed a access to the FEL button used to groundbreaking image capture system activate video capture was already comprising two Fujinon lenses and two in place as well as exposure com- CCDs, and the system is integrated in pensation, ISO and the illumina- tor buttons. Reassignment of these the compact body with high-precision functions through the DSLR’s custom engineering. aditech-uw.com menu setting is not necessary.

82 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED photo & Checking out Hugycheck video The electrical vacuum pump will then sure of 750 hPa, the red LED l stopped create a slight under pressure inside the blinking, and the green LED came on. housing, which can then be monitored And that was it! via the LED pressure indicator attached Amazingly, once the proceedure had to the camera’s hotshoe. Newer hous- been completed, the back of the housing models will have an additional ing was on tight. Even if the screws seal- bulkhead installed, but on older housing the housing back are removed, the ings like the model for my venerable inside pressure created by the pump old D200, will have the necessary valve ensures the housing back remains SEA&SEA product protection installed via a splitter on one of the pre- locked in place. To remove the camera existing bulkheads. from the housing, the valve on the split- SEA&SEA has just announced a I recently tested the system on a ter must be removed first. Once air gets one-of-a-kind program to help liveaboard trip in the Philippines. The back in through the open valve, the underwater photographers protect As any underwater photographer can operation was a breeze! The entire pro- back can then be opened. their valuable investments. The question is not if attest to, water and electronics is an cedure must be commenced at least On one occasion, the green ready a flood will occur, but when. Sea and Sea’s new uneasy partnership. One of my all-time 30 minutes prior to the dive. After lightly light refused to come on indicating Samsung AQ100 Protection Plan enables photographers to pro- most stressful moments was the first time greasing the housing’s main o-ring and there was an improper seal somewhere. tect their gear for a fraction of the cost of re- I assembled my brand-new housing ensuring it was dirt-free, I attached the After removing and then re-attaching Samsung Digital Imaging Com- placement equipment. Photographers purchas- and cringing, gingerly lowered it into back of the housing and sealed every- the housing back, the problem per- pany has announced its newest ing compact digital cameras sets or strobes from the rinse tank. No matter how careful thing up. After unscrewing the cap of sisted. Then, I removed the adaptor for underwater digital camera, the an authorized SEA&SEA dealer may choose you are at making sure the o-rings are the top valve on the splitter, I inserted my macro-port, re-attached it, and I re- Samsung AQ100. Boasting a 12 to enroll in a one-year (12 clean and everything is sealed prop- the plug on the electrical vacuum attempted the entire proceedure. The mega-pixel sensor and 5x opti- month) damage pro- erly, the dreaded what-if scenario of a pump into the one-way valve and green ready light finally came on, and I cal zoom, the camera is rated tection plan against flooded housing can’t help but creep pressed the button on the pump. Once was safe to go on my dive. to a depth of three metres with accidental dam- into your consciousness. the system detected a pressure For Hugyfot users, this ingenious an aqua mode button that age or flooding. The For Hugyfot users, those between 950 and 850 hPa, piece of equipment is a welcome addi- optimizes underwater photogra- new supplementary cringe-worthy moments the red LED started to blink tion to their underwater arsenal. While phy. Photos can be viewed on product protection can be a thing of the past once each second. small, it provides very big peace of its 2.7 LCD screen. The AQ100 is easy to sign up for with the award-winning When a pressure mind indeed. Price: 295 Euro shoots High Definition video at online within 30 days Hugycheck system. The between 850 and Hugyfot.com 750 frames per second. A release of purchase. ■ premise is simple yet highly 750 hPa was — Scott Bennett date of April 2010 is planned. ■ effective. HugyCheck is a reached, pre-dive check system that the red tests your housing to see if LED start- it has been properly sealed ed to Topaz Labs announces the release of the and whether the o-rings are Topaz Detail 2 Photoshop plug-in in good condition. Boasting refined electronics, a pres- Topaz Labs has upgaded Topaz Detail 2, a detail sure sensor is installed in enhancement and sharpening plug-in for Photoshop the housing and coupled that specializes in detail enhancement without cre- to the unit that interfaces ating image artifacts or noise. Utilizing a redesigned the camera synch on the user interface with additional tools and presets, hotshoe with the housing the new technology enhances detail and micro- synchro port. Upon installing blink contrast, with no over-sharpening, edge artifacts or a CR123A 3V battery, the three halos—which often occur with other sharpening tools. HugyCheck system will beep twice times Compatible with Windows and Intel-based Macs, before turning to stand-by mode. The per Topaz Detail 2 is offered as a free upgrade for existing red LED on the camera’s hot shoe will second. customers and retails for $39.99. To sign up for a free then blink every five seconds, indicating Finally, 30-day trial, go to: www.topazlabs.com ■ normal air pressure within the housing. at a pres-

83 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Cris Woloszak

PORTFOLIO

84 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED portfolio Woloszak

Originally from New attend college. Woloszak honed his skills in up in his shop. Clients York, Cris Woloszak painting flames on cars and motorcycles were amazed with the was introduced to the and developed a personal style while sculpture of the shark, and underwater world as a young boy painting his friends’vehicles. Shortly many offered to buy it, he when his family moved to South Florida to thereafter, his work was noticed by a said. Woloszak then purchased several trade the northern winters for the tropical growing audience, and people sought him more mounts, and he said, “my creativity beaches. At 11, he started surfing and out to paint their cars and motorcycles. began to flow”. spent long hours in the ocean, “waiting “One day,” said Woloszak, “I walked into “The first shark I placed in an art gallery for the perfect wave”. As his love for an art gallery and saw a bronze sculpture lasted three hours before it was sold,” said the ocean grew, Woloszak sat in awe of a dolphin and thought, ‘Wouldn’t that Woloszak. Success soon followed, of its inhabitants and marvelled at the look cool with a flame job on it?’ Soon and the artist’s “Jaws of Fire” abundance of colorful marine life that after, I came across a taxidermy Bull project now has collectors played around him. At 14, his family Shark and decided to apply my flame from every corner of the moved back to New York. technique.” He painted the shark world. Woloszak said that his Text edited by Gunild Symes Being away from the beach, Woloszak candy red with gold flames. collectors range from singles, All sculptures by Cris Woloszak said he seemed lost, “that is until I found It took the to families, to celebrities, and All images courtesy of Cris Woloszak a new passion—HOT RODS!” His father even other artists. had taken him to the Lead East Car Woloszak recently CLOCKWISE: Show where the young Woloszak expanded his Tequila Sunrise Devil Ray American sculptor, Cris Woloszak, saw his first custom paint job. body of work 36 inches has created sleek, fast, Hot Rod He said, “I was blown away to include creatures from the deep in fiberglass, by a flame job on a ’32 all types Silver Devil Ray with Blue and Ford; it was candy teal with of Black Tribal Flames, 36 inches donning flames and sparkling, glazed ghost flames!” At that moment, Charcoal Devil Ray with yel- paint jobs. They are revving up the Woloszak became determined low, orange and red flames waves in the dive world, and X-RAY to learn and master the skill. artist overlayed with black tribal MAG was bound and determined to “My new passion was born on one flames, 36 inches find out how and why this artist does that day,” he said. week to After graduating from high school, finish the Candy Apple Eagle Ray with what he does and where his talents he threw his tools and surfboard into his piece, and once Silver, Yellow and Orange Tribal Flames, 38 inches are leading him. Take a look... car and headed back to South Florida to done, he hung it

All sculptures by Cris Woloszak PREVIOUS PAGE: Blue Bull Shark, 36 inches sculpture by Cris Woloszak 85 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED portfolio Woloszak

fish, turtles and other animal I was so excited to see selling in smooth finish. This step assures that each life. He has also produced and what the next one looked fine art coat of candy paint lies flawlessly. Every sold numerous works of metal art. The like,” said Woloszak. “As I got time I begin a piece, it consumes more artist also accepts commissions to paint older, my dad introduced me to Bill galleries, time than I planned for, but always cars, motorcycles, boats, planes and ‘Bigs’ Eich, owner of Too Kool Kustoms Woloszak was comes out better than I expected. I have other vehicles. in Lake Worth, Florida. Bigs became my introduced to the larger always done things the hard way, but in biggest influence and mentor in the he did. I world of fine art. “Since that the end, it’s worth it,” he said. Role models custom painting business.” As their would then time, I have developed a true Between the base coat and the final “As a young kid, my dad, Ray Woloszak, relationship grew, Eich allowed rush home and appreciation for fine art and have clear coat, there can be over 40 layers of took me to several car shows. He Woloszak to watch him practice what I had seen.” had the opportunity to meet several paint on a sculpture. Woloszak said, had hot rods, and because of his work. “He wouldn’t reveal As Woloszak continued to practice amazing artists,” he said. “What you see sparkling from influence, I fell in love with his trade secrets, but I and hone his skill, he developed beneath the them as watched everything his own style of painting, design and Method transparent candy use of color. “As my love for painting As for how his hot rod creatures of the color are hot rods and the ocean increased, I deep are created, Woloszak said that several well. My was inspired to start the Jaws of Fire every sculpture begins as a fiberglass silver layers dad and I project of mixing marine life and blank. “I spend most of the day of paint or metal would marvel custom art.” After his perfecting the surface of flake.” at the unique work began every piece by The candy application paint jobs sanding it to a is the most labor intensive that each hot process in which to achieve a rod displayed. flawless finish he said. “I separate

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Purple People Eater Mako Shark, 72 inches; Candy Violet Permit with Planet Green Flames, 32 inches; Yellow Yellow Fin Tuna with Candy Apple Red Flames, 60 inches; Candy Apple Red Hammerhead Shark with Black Ghost Flames, 40 inches. All sculptures by Cris Woloszak

86 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED portfolio Woloszak IN OUR NEXT ISSUE Diving in Scandinavia Black Dolphin with Gallery shot of Purple Cave Diving Real Fire, 48-inch Daddy Bull Shark sculpture by Cris 60-inch sculpture by Churchill Woloszak Cris Woloszak

myself from other surfer and About art artwork displayed all over the custom painters gets to the Woloszak is passionate country, in most of the major BarB rOy by the layering of the beach as often about art. He said, art markets.” He said he is very aNdrEa fErrarI candies over and over as possible. “It “Art, to me, is not excited about the expansion again until I attain the deep makes me feel at peace reproduction only fun but a way of this project and glad that and rich hues that you see on and one with the ocean fiberglass taxidermy to reach people. I he will be able to share his art my pieces. The real depth and and its beautiful creatures,” sharks, rays, and developed a skill that with a new, wider audience. glossy finish appear from the he said. “My lifelong love of other marine animals others appreciated, and About 20 percent of multiple layers of clear coat surfing and snorkeling certainly in his creations. “As a that I found exciting. of Woloszak’s sales are that I apply.” This meticulous influenced my decision to marine life enthusiast Through art, I am able commissions, he said. “I really sequence can take weeks to bring marine life into my myself, I appreciate all to express myself and my like that I am accessible to my complete, he said, especially artworks. By combining my the life that the oceans love for the oceans. I always collectors and can make them for detailed commissions. love of marine life and my have to offer. I hope that my want my collectors to feel like happy with a custom painted love of custom paint jobs, I artwork will inspire people to they have purchased a one- piece.” If any readers are am living my dream further their appreciation of of-a-kind piece of art that was interested in a commissioned Diving aNdrEaB farErrarB rOIy So, does the artist scuba dive every day!” marine life and its need for created out of my love for the work, they may contact the to see his subjects? “I am not The artist protection,” he said. oceans and custom painting.” artist’s email address at: currently a certified diver, but uses Woloszak said that this is [email protected] my manager is, and he keeps only the most exciting time in the or visit his website at: urging me to get certified. He history of the Jaws of Fire www.jawsoffire.com. knows how much I love the project. “I plan on expanding ■ ocean.” Although Woloszak is the locations where my art not a diver yet, he is an avid can be seen and purchased. I am poised to have my

BarB rOy

Black Bull Shark COMING IN JUNE 2010 with Real Fire 36-inch sculpture Subscribe now FREE! by Cris Woloszak www.xray-mag.com

Gallery shot of Green Hornet Bull Shark 72-inch sculpture by Cris Woloszak 87 X-RAY MAG : 35 : 2010 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED